On the 21st, Seibu Lions Director and General Manager Koji Hiroike (53) spoke to the press after completing the scouting meeting held the day before the draft. Regarding the first-round pick, he did not disclose the name, stating, "We will not announce it. The reason is strategic. We made the decision today. As of yesterday, we had narrowed it down to three candidates, and we decided today." As a result, the team will head into the draft day without making their choice public.

Last year, two days before the draft meeting, they announced they would select Meiji University catcher Taiga Kojima as their first-round pick and successfully secured him without competition. In his first professional season this year, he completed the full season in the first team as the primary catcher, appearing in 99 games and recording a .267 batting average, 91 hits, 9 Home Runs, and 40 RBIs.