On the 29th, pitcher Hiroto Kawajiri (22) of Asia University, who was selected as the first-round draft pick by the Seibu Lions, set the 'Rookie of the Year' award as his goal for his first year.

At the university's Musashino Campus in Musashino City, Tokyo, the right-hander received a formal draft greeting from Seibu Lions Director and General Manager Hiroike and scout Ken Togame. Boasting a maximum speed of 158 km/h, his greatest weapon is a fastball that scout Togame describes by saying, 'There is more pressure than just the speed. The feeling of it hitting the mitt with a heavy thud is the perfect description.'

When Manager Nishiguchi visited to offer his greetings on the day of the draft meeting on the 22nd, he issued a "rookie of the year order," saying, "I want you to aim for it firmly where you can," showing high expectations for him as a ready-to-use right-handed pitcher. Kawajiri made a strong vow, saying, "In terms of immediate goals, I want to win the Rookie of the Year award, and in that process, I want to become a pitcher who represents the team and eventually a pitcher who represents Japan."