It was revealed on the 11th that Musashi Nagayama (3rd year), a 147km right-handed pitcher from Japan Wellness Okinawa who was selected by the Softbank Hawks as the 9th developmental pick in the draft, has declined to join the team and will instead challenge himself in American baseball.

On this day, Nagayama announced his intention to decline the offer and instead challenge himself in American baseball via his Instagram account. He expressed his thoughts, saying, "After the draft, I agonized and thought about my future many times. As a result, I made the decision to decline the offer in order to pursue baseball in America, which I have long admired. I am deeply sorry for the great inconvenience I have caused to everyone involved. I truly apologize for the trouble this decision has caused to the team officials and the many people who have supported me until now. To everyone at the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks who believed in my potential and nominated me, thank you very much."

In recent years, an increasing number of promising amateur players are challenging the American baseball world, including MLB, without going through the NPB. Among high schoolers, Yokohama's right-handed pitcher Shoki Oda (18), who clocks a maximum speed of 157 km/h, has expressed his intention to challenge the American baseball scene, including minor league contracts with MLB teams or attending a US university. Additionally, right-handed pitcher Tatsuya Nogami (20), who played for the semi-hard baseball club at Osaka Sangyo University and reaches a top speed of 156 km/h, signed a minor league contract with the Padres in October.

Nagayama possesses a gifted physique at 180 centimeters and 89 kilograms, and has drawn attention as a two-way player. In this summer's Okinawa tournament, he started the first-round match against Shuri under the Ohtani Rule as the number three hitter, DH, and pitcher. Using his fastball, which reaches a top speed of 144 kilometers per hour, and his change-up as weapons, he delivered a brilliant performance where he struck out eight batters. Lotte scout Fukuzawa, who observed the game, gave a high evaluation, stating, 'His hitting is a type we don't have. The launch angle of his hits is increasing, which is attractive.' Softbank Hawks scout Kato also watched intently, noting, 'There is still plenty of room for growth.'

The refusal to join the Softbank Hawks has occurred for three consecutive years, following pitcher Ryo Furukawa (Nihon Gakuen), who was selected as the first developmental pick in 2024, and infielder Rintaro Sasaki (Stanford University), who chose to join the MLB's Marlins after being selected as the first-round pick in 2025.

Musashi Nagayama. Born May 24, 2008, in Okinawa City. 18 years old. Started playing baseball at age 5 with the Miyazato Carp, and played for the rubber-ball baseball club at Miyazato Junior High. At Japan Wellness Okinawa, he joined the bench starting in the fall of his first year wearing number 5. In April, he participated in the U-18 Japan National Team candidate training camp. 180 cm, 89 kg. Right-handed pitcher, left-handed batter. The players he admires are Chisholm of the Yankees and Richard of The Giants. His family consists of his parents and an older sister.