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RETURN to Teams Page
NPB Japanese Professional Baseball
Draft Guide
by Brandon Siefken, JapanBall.com
(This page posted until just before the start of the 2010 season.)
For the first time in years the draft for the 2009
season subjected all amateur levels (high school, university, and industrial
league) to the same draft.
Each team is ranked and graded using three criteria:
- How a team met its needs;
- What talent was drafted...and passed by; and,
- The value received for the round.
A brief recap of team statistics are given before the
analysis.
| Team: |
Buffaloes |
Draft Rank: |
6 |
Grade: |
B- |
|
2008 Statistical Finish out of Six Clubs in League |
| Record |
75-68-1 (2nd) |
RBI |
637 (3rd) |
| RA* |
605 (2nd) |
ERA |
3.93 (4th) |
| * Runs Allowed |
The Buffaloes were pretty good at everything, and not great
at anything. They finished a surprising second place in the Pacific League.
They went out and drafted three pitchers in a row.
First Round: Takuya Kai, a pitcher from Tokai High
School), was overrated, but has great physical tools. I don't see him being a
great pitcher in the big leagues.
Second Round: Masaki Ihara, a pitcher from Kansai
University of International Studies, is ready for this level and could crack
the rotation if needed.
Third Round: Yuki Nishi, a pitcher from Komono High
School, was a big reach. They could've gotten more value here. I like Nishi,
but he's not ready to start and there were so many better players available
Orix ended by picking another average pitcher and a no-name
fielder.
They came out with at least one player they can use right
away and two others who have a good chance later, but overall their draft was
made up of underachieving big players or reaches.
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