Nippon-Ham manager Tsuyoshi Shinjo (54) has stated that he will avoid drawing lots in the draft. On the 21st, the day before the Professional baseball Draft Conference supported by Lipovitan D, Nippon-Ham's scouting meeting was held in Tokyo.

Manager Shinjo, who attended, remarked, "I looked at the top 12 or so players. Personally, I have my own thoughts on which players I like," but avoided specifically mentioning the top candidate, saying, "I can't say, but I think it's exactly who you'd imagine."

However, he spoke clearly regarding the anticipated task. Last year, after three teams competed for the Hanshin Tigers' first-round pick Tateishi, he drew the lottery himself but failed to secure the negotiating rights. Reflecting on that past, he said with a wry smile, "I just can't seem to win them."

Continuing, when asked about the possibility of a competition for the same player again this year, he looked back on last year and said, "I'm not drawing the lot. I told you I wouldn't. Last year, no joke, I really thought the paper was 0.01 millimeters thicker by the amount of the ink from the stamp, but when I drew it, I lost. So I'm done with that," indicating with a smile that he does not intend to stand on the stage.

However, as Director Shinjo has often stirred things up with his words and actions in the past, he left the venue with a laugh, saying at the very end, "On the day of the event, I might just say, 'Wait a minute. I'm going instead.'"