|
RETURN to Teams Page
Top Picks from Amateur
Draft going into 2009 Season.
by Brandon Siefken,
JapanBall.com
(This page to remain posted until just before 2010 season.)
|
|
Taishi Ota |
Name
|
| Shortstop |
Position
|
| Tokaidai Sagami HS |
Previous Club
|
| 6/9/90 |
Birthdate
|
| 188 / 74 |
Centimeters / Inches
|
| 90 / 198 |
Kilograms / Pounds
|
| R / R |
Throws / Bats |
Ota is a beast. He started on his elementary
school team in third grade. He's very reminiscent of Matsui and hit 60+ home
runs in his career. He has a great attitude of sacrificing for the team,
sometimes pitching relief and throwing a 142km fastball.
His physique is perfect, made to play baseball.
He follows through on every swing and can hit long to left or right. Some scouts
don't like his foot mechanics.
He's smart enough to read pitches and hits curves
as well as fastballs. His fielding defense needs a little work.
Projection: Ota is good enough to play at this
level from day one. Unfortunately, he joins a talented team with little room in
the line-up. However, with the attention he's getting, it'll be hard for the
Giants not to appease the fans and play him some now. Perhaps a pinch-hitting
role or spot starts.
The Giants have shown a tendency in the last few
years of starting young and unproven players under Hara, so Ota could see time.
Japanese scouts say he needs to correct his
footwork in the minors, but I think he needs to start now. He'll make the most
of his opportunities when they come and eventually will be a dominating slugger
in this league.
|
|
Takefumi Miyamoto
|
Name
|
| Pitcher
|
Position
|
| Kurashiki HS
|
Previous Club
|
| 8/11/90
|
Birthdate
|
| 183 72
|
Centimeters / Inches
|
| 75 165
|
Kilograms / Pounds
|
| L / L
|
Throws / Bats |
This lanky lefty has a 147km fastball, a good curve, and a nice
cut on his fastball. He has great mechanics, but suffers occasionally from
mental lapses. When he loses his rhythm he gets conservative and stops
attacking. He gets many batters out with a nice screwball and an above average
slider. He has a very flexible long body that allows him to get more whip into
his throws.
Projection: I was surprised to see Miyamoto go before Saito.
Miyamoto sometimes gives up big innings and does not control a game. This,
coupled with the fact that the Giants are not desperate for starting pitching,
leads me to believe Miyamoto's role will be in relief, if he has any role in
2009.
The less innings he pitches at a time, the less chance for a
mental lapse and he can unleash his power more. He has a vast repertoire of
pitches and good velocity, so he can be depended upon to eat middle
innings.
Japanese scouts like Miyamoto much more than I do, but with
proper teaching he can be a pro level relief pitcher.
|
|
Keisuke Saito
|
Name
|
| Pitcher
|
Position
|
| Chiba Keidaifu HS
|
Previous Club
|
| 9/24/90
|
Birthdate
|
| 185 / 73 |
Centimeters / Inches
|
| 90 / 198
|
Kilograms / Pounds
|
| R / R |
Throws / Bats |
Saito has been a dominating rock. Not so much an
intimidation pitcher, but a balanced and skillful pitcher with good velocity
(145km) and a good K/9 ratio.
In 2008 Saito pitched until his arm fell off, and
suffered from overuse by his coach due to no depth on the roster. He was close
to unhitable before tiring, and he managed games well. Fatigue is no longer a
factor.
Projection: Keisuke has the build, mechanics,
smarts, and arm to play at this level. Unfortunately, the current Giants have
the most talent at pitching they've had since the Makihara - Saito - Kuwata
rotation days. Losing Uehara to MLB hurts the Giants marginally, but he did not
play much and was injured often.
The Giants likely will give Saito spot relief
appearances in 2009 and eventually work him into the rotation. The Giants
playoff chase will limit Saito's playing chances, but he should make the roster
and play when the Giants have large leads or fall behind in games.
This was an excellent value pick as some scouts,
myself included, had Saito pegged as the best high school pitcher in Japan. He's
workhorse material and will eventually be a welcome starter for Yomiuri.
| 
