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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.)
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Shingo Tatsumi |
Name
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| Pitcher |
Position
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| Kinki University |
Previous Club
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| 1/10/87 |
Birthdate
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| 182 / 72 |
Centimeters / Inches
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| 67 / 148 |
Kilograms / Pounds
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| R / L |
Throws / Bats |
Has a great arm and once posted back-to-back a
23K game and a no-hit complete game. He's not overpowering and has a small frame
that may limit his potential. There's no doubt he has the smarts and tools to
succeed at the top level in Japan.
Projection: It's likely Shingo will have a role
in the Hawks pitching corps. He has a big league arm and with the right coaching
can become a solid starter in the rotation. The Hawks pitching dropped off last
year and they suddenly find themselves needing help.
How big of a role this rookie can find remains to
be seen, but I'd not be surprised if Tatsumi has one of the largest roles in
2009 among rookie pitchers, along with Kimura (Lotte). Perhaps even getting a
fifth rotation spot, or at least spot starts through the season.
He is polished so he'll make good use of his
chances when they come. His small frame is a concern since he doesn't seem to
have much room to bulk up and add strength.
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Soichiro Tateoka
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Name
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| Shortstop
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Position
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Chinzei HS
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Previous Club
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| 5/18/90
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Birthdate
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| 180 / 71 |
Centimeters / Inches
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| 80 / 176
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Kilograms / Pounds
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| R / R
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Throws / Bats |
Tateoka has played at short since his freshman year, and he is
very experienced. He has strong shoulders, and can throw and field well. Has a
great throwing arm and a good eye at the plate. Can hit balls off the corners of
the plate for long distances. Japanese scouts like to compare him to Seibu
legend Akiyama. While that may be a reach for an amateur player, he does have a
great build and arm and should be a dependable hitter and fielder in his carrer.
projection: The Hawks could use infield help, but I do not think Tateoka is
ready to step in and contribute yet. He needs to polish his skills. He is not a
pro level hitter yet, and he can not contribute in other areas like base
stealing yet either. He is a great potential pick. With good coaching he could
become a great Akiyama-type utility player, but 2009 is most likely not his year
to do that yet.
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Reo Chikada
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Name
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| Pitcher |
Position
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| Hotoku Gakuen HS
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Previous Club
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| 4/30/90
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Birthdate
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| 177 / 70
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Centimeters / Inches
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| 84 / 185
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Kilograms / Pounds
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| L / L
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Throws / Bats |
Chikada throws in the 145km range and has a great
presence on the mound, though he se suffers from inconsistency. He had a
terrible Spring 08, but came back nicely in Koshien 08.
His slider and change-up are very good, his curve
average. He uses his powerful lower body well and has a smooth release.
Projection: Chikada is a bit of a gamble. You
never know what you'll get with him. When he was on his game, he was one of the
better pitchers in high school. His velocity is not scary, but he's clever and
has enough heat to get the job done.
I don't see him challenging for a rotation spot.
The pick after him, Arima, seems more likely to get a shot at the rotation
first. The Hawks are most likely banking on Chikada's potential, which signals
that he's not ready to pitch in 2009.
If the Hawks can coach him into a more consistent
pitcher and he can add some bulk to his body and velocity to his fastball,
Chikada can succeed at the big league level as an average pitcher.
There seem to be too many "if's" for
one to bank on him at this point. It's also possible that all he needs to become
a big time pitcher is big league experience.
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Sho Arima
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Name
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| Pitcher |
Position
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| Nichinan Gakuen |
Previous Club
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| 6/5/90
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Birthdate
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| 174 / 68
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Centimeters / Inches
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| 78 / 172 |
Kilograms / Pounds
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| L / L
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Throws / Bats |
This high school pitcher, Arima, shows good judgment on the
mound and was born to play baseball. He's an aggressive pitbull who's not afraid
to throw down the gauntlet and challenge batters. When he needs a strike, he
goes for it with no hesitation...and usually gets it.
His presence is much larger than his physique, and he can
intimidate batters. Some feel, me included, that he was better than his team
mate Nakazaki (Lotte).
His release angle is almost 45 degrees allowing him to get good
side movement on his slider and screwballs.
Projection: Arima doesn't fully utilize his lower body, but with
proper teaching he'll get much better. His mentality is perfect for the big
leagues. He may make mistakes from being overconfident, since he's used to
dominating at the high school level.
If he bulks up and learns to turn his lower body into a power
source for his pitches, he'll do very well at the pro level. Look for him to get
some chances in the depleted Hawks pitching corps. They may not try to start him
yet, but spot appearances are not out of the question.
This was a great value pick later in the draft as Arima should
be a future starter and solid pro pitcher.
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