Pitcher Kenta Kozono of Municipal Wakayama High School, who was nominated as the first draft by professional baseball team DeNA, signed a temporary contract with the baseball team and said, "I want to do my best without forgetting my original intentions."
Pitcher Kozono is an orthodox right-handed pitcher with a fastball of 152km and a variety of changing balls, and was nominated by DeNA at the draft meeting last month.
On the 6th, pitcher Kozono negotiated with the team at a hotel in Wakayama City, and director Daisuke Miura, who showed up at the venue, asked, "Did you feel well?"
As a result of the negotiations, it was estimated that a temporary contract was signed with a contract fee of 100 million yen and an annual salary of 13.2 million yen.
After that, pitcher Kozono said, "I feel like I'm getting tighter. Unlike high school baseball, baseball is my job, so I want to keep my original intentions and cherish my current feelings and do my best."
On the other hand, Director Miura hoped that he would play an active role, saying, "I want you to stand on the mound of Yokohama Stadium as soon as possible. I want you to become a pitcher who carries the BayStars on your back."