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RETURN to Teams Page
NPB Japanese Professional Baseball Draft
Guide
by Brandon Siefken, JapanBall.com
(This page to remain posted until just before 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: |
Hawks |
Draft Rank: |
5 |
Grade: |
B |
|
2008 Statistical Finish out of Six Clubs in League |
| Record |
64-77-3 (6th) |
RBI |
556 (5th) |
| RA* |
641 (5th) |
ERA |
4.05 (5th) |
| * Runs Allowed |
The Hawks needed everything anywhere, and did quite nicely. Their
pitching was simply awful last season, and they stocked up on good pitchers with
a lot of potential.
First Round: Shingo Tatsumi from Kinki University. He's
small, but very polished and has a big league arm. He could step in right
away.
Second Round: Soichiro Tateoka, a shortstop from Chinzei
High School. He may not be able to play at this level yet, but he'll be able to
soon. He'll be a good one once he is ready.
The next two picks were high school pitchers. Reo Chikada from
Hotoku Gakuin and Sho Arima from Nichinan Gakuen. Chikada had great numbers but
is not yet ready to step in. Arima is one of my favorite picks in the draft. He
has a nasty attitude and good heat. With a little work I see him being a very
good pro.
The Hawks added three more pitchers who all have good potential.
They may have drafted too much pitching, since their hitting needs help too, but
the Arima pick, plus two other solid players who can step in right away give
SoftBank’s draft a high score overall.
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