Japan's professional baseball draft was held in Tokyo on Thursday, with the first two rounds completed, according to Yomiuri Shimbun. The Yomiuri Giants used their first-round pick on pitcher Shoki Oda of Yokohama High School, the hard-throwing right-hander who has announced his intention to try playing in the United States. Nippon Ham was the only club to select Yosei Komoda, the Yamanishi Gakuin High School pitcher who drew attention at Koshien for both his pitching and his hitting.
In the second round, the Giants picked pitcher Ryohei Hirata, Yomiuri Shimbun reported.
Two players from Aoyama Gakuin University drew competition from multiple clubs. Catcher Kai Watanabe and pitcher Taisei Suzuki, who worked together as a battery, were each sought by two teams. The Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles won the rights to Watanabe, while the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks secured Suzuki, according to the report.
The draft determines which clubs may negotiate with Japan's top amateur prospects. Oda's stated plan to pursue a career in the U.S. adds a layer of uncertainty to the Giants' selection, though the report did not address how the club intends to proceed. The remaining rounds and any further signings will show how the first-round decisions play out.