2026 Professional baseball Draft Conference supported by Lipovitan D (22nd)

Panasonic pitcher Seiya Kakimoto (24) was selected in the second round by the Seibu Lions.

The final ace of Panasonic, which will suspend its activities at the end of this season. He appeared in the Intercity baseball Tournament for two consecutive years in 2025 and 2026, pitching 18 1/3 innings over three total games with an ERA of 1.47. His stability shines through a pitch repertoire that mixes a fastball reaching a maximum of 151 km/h with a variety of pitches such as a two seam fastball.

In this year's Intercity Baseball Tournament, he was unable to participate with his own team, but he contributed to the runner-up finish as a reinforcement player for NTT West. He intends to use a brilliant pitching performance at the Japan National Team Championships (Kyocera Dome), which begins on the 31st, as a parting gift before entering the professional ranks.

Seiya Kakimoto. Born May 9, 2002, in Hyogo Prefecture. 24 years old. At Toyo University Himeji High School, he joined the bench in the summer of his first year, and reached the final four in the prefecture in the spring of his second year. He played an active role as the ace starting in the fall. At Toyo University, he made his league debut in the Tohto Second Division in the fall of his first year. In the First Division, he appeared in 5 games with a record of 0 wins, 1 loss, and a 2.84 ERA. In the Second Division, he appeared in 24 games with 2 wins, 2 losses, and a 3.52 ERA. He joined Panasonic in 2025. 183 cm, 80 kg. Right-handed pitcher and hitter.