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

Keito Kawajiri (21) of Asia University, who was selected as the first-round pick by the Seibu Lions, expressed his excitement for a reunion with his senior from Toyama, pitcher Hakua Iwaki.

Kawajiri is from Takaoka Commercial High School in Toyama. When asked about his impression of the Seibu Lions, the team that drafted him, he said, "I have the impression that they put a lot of effort into developing pitchers." He added with a smile, "I am from Toyama Prefecture, and my senior, Iwaki, also joined the Seibu Lions last year, so I hope we can work hard and compete with each other."

Iwaki joined the Seibu Lions as the second-round draft pick from Chuo University in 2025. In his first professional year this season, he served as the closer until the middle of the season.