Lotte's first-round draft pick, Genki Ishigaki pitcher (18) = Kentai Takasaki, will make his debut on August 8, starting in the farm league's Nippon-Ham game against Lotte Urawa on November 11.

The right-handed pitcher is the first high school graduate first-round draft pick for the team to participate in spring training in six years, since Roki Sasaki (now with the Dodgers) in 2020. On March 13, he took the mound for a live BP (batting practice in a simulated game) at Lotte Urawa, throwing 20 pitches and recording a top speed of 153 km/h, demonstrating steady progress.

Manager Saburo, who watched him pitch bullpen during spring training and described him as "a monster in a word. He's on a different level. I think he's in the same class as Roki," is captivated by his talent and has hinted at promoting him to the first team this season once he's determined that he's built a body that won't get injured through repeated practice and appearances in the farm league. The "monster of the Reiwa era" is finally about to unveil himself.