Naoki Sato, who transferred from Softbank Hawks to Rakuten Eagles in the active player draft, will be the focus of attention as he looks to see if he can secure a regular position in outfield.

Sato joined Softbank Hawks as the first pick in the 2019 draft. He was a development player for a time, but last season he played in a career-high 104 games. He contributed to the team's league championship with a batting average of .239, 5 Home Run, 18 RBI, and 10 stolen base. He is arguably the most talented player in this year's active draft, and the one most likely to break out.

As for outfielder situation for Rakuten Eagles, Daisuke Nakashima, in his second year after graduating from college, played in 124 games and recorded a batting average of .266, but Yuya Ogo, who played in every game in 2014, struggled and only played in 90 games, and Ryosuke Tatsumi has declared his domestic free agency rights, leaving his future uncertain. Nakajima, the only outfielder to reach the required number of at-bats last season, will be in his second year next season, so it is quite possible that he will be closely monitored and struggle like Ogō.

Given that, it makes sense that Naoki Sato was drafted as a player. Sato himself overcame fierce competition during his time with Softbank Hawks and played in 104 games last season, so he will likely be highly motivated to take on the challenge next season. In recent years, Rakuten Eagles has been using a lot of its offense to make use of its speed, and considering that Sato is known for his speed, he will be a valuable asset.

It will be interesting to see if this transfer as a current draft pick will lead to a leap forward.