On the 29th, catcher Ryo Tanaka (17) of Nihon University Third High School, who boasts 30 career high school Home Runs and was selected as the fourth-round draft pick by the Seibu Lions, received a post-draft visit at his school in Machida City, Tokyo.

Standing 180 centimeters tall and weighing 105 kilograms, this chubby-bodied right-handed slugger admires Seibu Lions infielder Takeya Nakamura (43), who has hit a total of 482 Home Runs throughout his career solely with the team. 'I want to aim to be like Nakamura. I want to ask him about everything starting from his form and absorb various things. I will do my best to contribute through my batting,' he said with sparkling eyes. Kosaku Akimoto, the Seibu Lions Deputy General Manager, expressed his joy at drafting the 'Okawari-kun II,' stating, 'He is a player who can hit for extra bases. His swing axis is stable, and he can handle difficult inside pitches by using his body's rotation. I believe he has plenty of potential to become like Nakamura.'

Last summer, he played in Koshien wearing number 3, hit two Home Runs, and contributed to the team's runner-up finish. Although he has little practical experience as a catcher, Akimoto, the deputy general manager of the club, praised him, saying his throwing and handling are soft. He added, 'A catcher who can hit is valuable, so we want to develop him properly,' expressing his hope that he will grow into a pillar of the team in both offense and defense.