Hanshin is considering drafting a corporate-league position player for the first time in years. Several players, including Tokyo Gas outfielder Fujisawa Ryosuke (藤沢涼介), remain on the list, and the possibility of selecting one in this year's draft is being discussed.
Hanshin has been reported to be considering selecting a corporate-league position player in the draft, with several players, including Tokyo Gas outfielder Fujisawa Ryosuke (藤沢涼介) (24) and Nihon Shinyaku catcher Sasahara Manato (笹原愛斗) (24), named as candidates. The team typically selects several pitchers, but there have been only limited cases of it selecting position players, making this a notable move after several years.
Only a small number of corporate-league position players have been selected over the past 10 years, including Toyoda Hiroshi (豊田寛) (24), infielder Itohara Kento (糸原健斗) (33), infielder Chikamoto Koji (近本光司) (31), infielder Kinami Seiya (木浪聖也) (32) and infielder Nakano Takumu (中野拓夢) (30). These players are said to have gone on to perform as key contributors.
The current candidates include Tokyo Gas outfielder Fujisawa Ryosuke (藤沢涼介) and Nihon Shinyaku catcher Sasahara Manato (笹原愛斗), and their evaluation as immediate-impact position players is being scrutinized. The movement on Hanshin's list could change depending on the draft's developments.