Lotte announced on the 15th that they held a press conference at a hotel in Hanamaki City for their second-round developmental draft pick, Toma Sasaki (Hanamaki Higashi High School). The contract includes a signing bonus of 3 million yen and an annual salary of 2.6 million yen (both estimated).

Sasaki commented through the team, "I feel that I have finally become a professional baseball player, something I have dreamed of since I was a child. I want to further update my current strengths and appeal myself toward being registered for the main roster. I will do my best to become a pitcher like my Hanamaki Higashi seniors Ohtani and Kikuchi, or Taneichi of The Marines, who are called power pitchers—someone who can get a batter struck out when needed and keep the game moving at a good tempo."

Toma Sasaki

Date of Birth: March 23, 2009

Place of birth: Iwate

position: pitcher

Throwing/Hitting: Right/Right

Height / Weight: 182 cm / 80 kg

Career: Hanamaki Higashi High School