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

Meisei University pitcher Sora Kato (4th year, Horikoshi) was selected in the 4th round by Nippon-Ham. This was the first selection from Meisei University in three years.

A right-handed pitcher who boasts a maximum speed of 157 kilometers per hour. His fastball, thrown from his 185-centimeter tall frame, is his greatest appeal, and he was honored as a member of the Best Nine in the second division of the Tokyo Metropolitan Area University Baseball League during the spring of his third year.

His favorite pitcher is Brewers pitcher J. Misiorowski (24), who is called a "monster" with a maximum speed of 169.8 km/h. "We were born only two years apart. I want to make my own fastball even faster," he said.

Sora Kato. Born December 29, 2004, in Tokyo. 21 years old. At Horikoshi, he joined the bench starting in the summer of his second year. In the East Tokyo Tournament during the summer of his third year, he wore number 10 and was eliminated in the quarterfinals. At Meisei University, he made his debut in the second division league in the fall of 2024. 185 cm, 92 kg. Right-handed pitcher and right-handed batter.