Nippon-Ham Fighters drafted No. 4 Nihon University Fujisawa infielder Minamiju Handa (18) on the 10th, and held negotiations at the school in Fujisawa, Kanagawa Prefecture, where he signed a provisional contract for a signing bonus of 35 million yen and an annual salary of 5.3 million yen (both estimated). After completing negotiations with acting GM Masao Kida and scout Koichi Sakamoto, Handa said with enthusiasm, "I now feel like I can become a professional baseball player. I want to perform well and become a player that is loved."
He is a medium-distance hitter with outstanding hitting ability. He is also short stop who is fast and makes good use of his good arm in defense. Until he officially joins the team, he intends to continue honing his running, hitting and defense through self-practice. "I improved the most during self-practice after the summer of my third year of junior high school. I want to cherish the time I spend facing myself," he said, showing no intention of taking a break.
When he's not baseball, he spends his time reading self-help books and other things. The book he recently read that made the biggest impression on him was "The World's Most Exciting Leadership Textbook" (by Oshima Keisuke). Since the spring tournament, he has been using it as a guide when thinking about leadership. He's currently reading "120 Ways of Thinking that Make the Impossible Possible: Shohei Ohtani." He is pondering the way of thinking of this great senior who went from Nippon-Ham to the majors.
He learned his single-minded approach to his work from his father, Tomoki (57), a firefighter and a member of the Nihon University Fujisawa Volleyball Club. "I've always thought it was cool" to see his father training his body to be strong enough to withstand lifesaving missions. His dream has been to become a professional baseball player since he was in the first grade of elementary school, but even though his occupation is different, he intends to inherit his father's passion for "doing things that make people happy."
The day before, he went to Nippatsu Mitsuzawa Stadium to cheer on his school's soccer team, who had won the Kanagawa Prefecture tournament of the National High School Soccer Championship. He was greatly inspired by his friends who had won the Kanagawa Prefecture tournament, which is known nationwide for being at a high level. "The baseball and soccer teams are really good friends. We go to each other's games to cheer each other on. There was even a guy from the soccer team who showed up (before me) wearing a Nippon-Ham uniform," he said with a laugh.
His love for his alma mater is strong, and Masashi Yamamoto, an alumnus of Chunichi who played as pitcher is one of the people he looks up to. I want to be a player who can surpass Masashi someday," he said. He hopes to give part of his contract and salary back to the club where he spent his elementary, junior high, and high school years. If there is a need. If I become a player who can earn millions of dollars, I want to give them something big," he said with a twinkle in his eye.
(Takehiko Kai)
◆Handa Minato was born on May 10th, 2007 in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture. He started playing baseball in the first grade at Kamoi Elementary School and joined The BayStars Junior in the sixth grade. He played for Yokohama Tsuzuki Little Senior while at Higashi Kamoi Junior High School. He was on the bench at Nihon University Fujisawa from the summer of his first year. He is 176cm tall and weighs 76kg. He throws right and bats left. He is survived by his parents, older brother and sister.
Related News
... [Nippon-Ham] 4th-ranked pick, Nichidai Fujisawa, Handa Minamiju, is a festival man. The dance was a big hit.
The left arm of a prefectural school with a deviation score of 68, 13K to Nichidai Fujisawa complete game win, 9 teams from Japan and the U.S. gathered, MLB scout "like Hiroki Matsui slider "
High School baseball】Fujita and Yuta Saito, former ace of Tokai University Sagami Ryusei Fujita and Nittai Fujisawa, "I'm glad that the last one is Fujita".
High School baseball】Nichidai Mishima, which participated in the 2010 spring and summer Koshien series, has decided on the paths of its three main players... Kenta Tsunashima infielder will go to Tokai University.
Chunichi】Hokiteru's Kosuke Takahashi pitcher, the fifth overall pick in the draft, has signed a temporary contract at a sushi restaurant in Otaru... His goal is to surpass Masashi Yamamoto standings, an alumnus of the team, who joined the team.
