A new player from professional baseball Yakult was announced to join the team, and pitcher Teru Yamashita of Hosei University, who ranked first in the draft, stated his enthusiasm to become a player targeted by children.
The announcement of the new Yakult players joining the group was made at the Meiji Kinenkan in Minato-ku, Tokyo, with the participation of about 120 fans selected by lottery.
Six players nominated at the draft meeting and Shingo Takatsu attended, and each player was called by his name and given a brand new uniform by Director Takatsu.
Pitcher Yamashita, who is in first place in the draft, is a left pitcher with a straight and sharp slider with a maximum speed of 152 km.
At the press conference, pitcher Yamashita, who put his sleeve on the uniform with a uniform number of "15", said, "I'm excited to think that I can play in the uniform of the best team in Japan. I want you to see a strong and heavy straight."
Then, he wrote his determination on the colored paper as "a target player" and said, "I was able to become a professional baseball player from a young age, and now I want to be a player that is targeted by children." Said enthusiasm.
Manager Takatsu said to the fans, "We have nominated players who can aim for consecutive league titles. Expectations are high. I believe that they will meet those expectations. Please expect."
The aspirations of the new players
Kazuka Maruyama of Meiji University, who is in second place in the draft, said, "I feel like I've become a professional baseball player. I have shoulders, legs, and defense, so I'd like to do my best to get closer to the top-level players. Play for a long time in the 1st army. I think it's our mission to do it. "
Nippon Express pitcher Daichi Shibata, who is in third place in the draft, said, "I finally got to the starting line. I have to get results. I want to be a pitcher who can push straight like Kyuji Fujikawa. I want to be a save king in the future." I did.
Kotaro Komori of Ube Technical High School, who is in 4th place in the draft, said, "I have to go crazy day by day. I want people to say,'Because Komori came, I became a good team.'" Was there.
Pitcher Hinata Takeyama of Kyoei High School, who is in 5th place in the draft, said, "I am excited to wear the uniform of a traditional team. I can play bullish against any batter, so I want to appeal that. I want to spend time without it. "
Yukihiro Iwata of Shinano Grandserows, who is ranked first in training, said, "I will do my best to keep wearing uniforms for as long as one day. I will appeal the certainty of running ability and defense and aim for registration under control."