Ryo Tanaka (18), a catcher from Nihon University Daisan High School who was selected by the Seibu Lions in the fourth round of the draft, signed a provisional contract on the 6th at a hotel in Kanagawa Prefecture with a signing bonus of 40 million yen and an annual salary of 7 million yen (both amounts are estimates).

Standing at 180 centimeters and weighing 105 kilograms with a large build, he possesses a batting sense praised by Deputy General Manager Kosaku Akimoto, who attended the press conference and stated, 'The angle of the ball when he pulls it is something you don't see often; we all agreed that it is the hit of a long-distance power hitter.' At last summer's Koshien, where Nichidai San finished as runners-up, he played as the number four hitter and first baseman, hitting two Home Runs.

The player he admires is Seibu Lions infielder Takeya Nakamura, who will enter his 26th professional season next year. He expressed his enthusiasm, saying, 'Since my strengths are home runs and long-distance hitting power, I mentioned his name. In two or three years, I want to become a player who can hit many home runs and lead the team to victory as a core member of the lineup, just like Takeya Nakamura.'

Actually, this day was his 18th birthday, and the hotel surprised him with a ball-shaped cake. Coincidentally, he ended up signing the contract on the milestone day of his coming-of-age, and he said with a shy smile, 'I feel like I just have to do it. I hope it will be a good year.'