An exciting rookie has joined Orix Buffaloes. Including development slots, 11 players were selected in the October draft. Five of the seven players under contract are high school students, and both team president Michio Minato (63) and general manager Junichi Fukura (65), who will retire on the 31st, are unanimous in saying, "It's an exciting plan." The West Hochi Buffaloes will be introducing rookies from various sports in a series titled "Ho! Rookies." The first installment will focus on the three top picks, with pitcher Ryuga Sato (18), who was drafted third, expressing his desire to join forces with Fujikawa and Haru Mori. He envisioned the goal of the "exciting plan" as "if all three of us could be in the rotation."

Third-round draft pick Sato Ryuga's eyes sparkled. "The two players above me are high school students, so I feel really encouraged. I think they're rivals I can compete with." He will be working together with Fujikawa and Mori Haru, who were selected first and second. "If we could get the three of us into the rotation," he envisioned as the goal of the "Wakuwaku Plan."

Last August, he underwent reconstruction surgery on the medial collateral ligament of his left elbow and almost gave up on his dream of becoming a professional player. His family and friends encouraged him, saying, "You can do it. He became stronger both mentally and physically, and his fastest speed rose to 147 km/h. Ishigaki, who was in the same grade at Kentai Takasaki (Gunma), was drafted first overall by the Lotte team (Pacific League). He said, "I don't see him as a rival. I want to pitch against him," he said, aiming for a reunion.

His admiration is for ace Miyagi. GM Fukura, who entrusted number 41 him with the project, nodded his head and said, "The ball is strong, and I have an image similar to Miyagi's. I want to repay my family by becoming Orix Buffaloes the ace and ultimately representing Japan pitcher." The name "Ryugetsu" will be familiar to fans. Rising straight up. (Nagata, Toru)

◆Ryūga Sato was born on July 13th, 2007 in Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture. He is 18 years old. He started playing baseball in the Imai Nishimachi Youth baseball Club in his first year at Ooto Elementary School, and joined the Giants Junior in 2019. He played for Tokyo Jonan Boys while at Nishinakahara Junior High School, and was selected for the U15 Samurai Japan team. He was on the bench at Kendai Takasaki from the spring of his first year. He won the Senbatsu tournament in his second year.

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