On June 22nd, Lotte announced that they will begin accepting applications for the selection process for The Marines Junior Team (for 6th graders) to participate in the "NPB Junior Tournament KONAMI CUP 2026," scheduled to be held in late December, starting at 3:00 PM on June 22nd.

The program is open to sixth-grade elementary school students born between April 2, 2014 and April 1, 2015. The application period is from 3:00 PM on June 22 to 3:00 PM on July 6. The first selection round is scheduled for July 21, 22, and 23. The selection round will include ball handling, long throws, swings, base running, and infield defense. The manager of The Marines Junior 2026 will be Yukihiko Sato, a The Marines alumnus and principal of the The Marines Baseball Academy.

In addition, starting with Raito Ikeda infielder (Chiba Lotte Marines, Jr., 2011 / 2nd-round draft pick in 2021), who currently plays for the Chiba Lotte Marines, the number of professional players from the The Marines Junior League who have been baseball draft picks stands at 17—the highest total among the 12 teams since the league’s inception in 2005.

▼ Comments from Director Yukihiko Sato

"We, Chiba Lotte Marines, value not only improving our skills through baseball, but also growing as individuals. In our junior team activities, under the top team's slogan, 'PLAY FREE. WIN HARD.', and with the motto 'Play hard, have fun, and win,' each and every one of us will strive for growth, never forgetting our gratitude to those who support us, and giving our all until the very end. Over the next four months, let's grow together, taking on various challenges with our teammates, so that we can become courageous, grateful, and trustworthy individuals. We are looking for teammates who want to challenge themselves with the goal of winning the 'NPB Junior Tournament KONAMI CUP 2026'. We look forward to your applications."

▼ The Marines Junior Selection Trials Details

Application period: June 22nd, 3:00 PM - July 6th, 3:00 PM

First selection round: July 21st, 22nd, and 23rd

Selection criteria: Ball handling, long throw, swing, base running, infield defense, etc. Participation fee: 1,000 yen (tax included)

Venue: In case of fine weather: Fukuda Denshi ground (within Soga Sports Park, Chiba City)

In case of rain: Inage Seaside Park Indoor Gymnasium

Eligibility: Elementary school 6th graders born between April 2, 2014 and April 1, 2015.

*For details regarding eligibility requirements, the schedule for the second and final selection rounds, bat regulations, and other information, please check the team's official website.

▼List of professional baseball players who came from The Marines Junior team (17 players)

Kensuke Kondo (2005: Chiba Lotte Marines, Jr. / 2011: Hokkaido Nippon-Ham, 4th place)

Yu Sato (2005: Chiba Lotte Marines Jr. / 2015: Chunichi, 2nd place)

Shun Takayama (2005: Chiba Lotte Marines Jr. / 2015: Hanshin Tigers, 1st place)

Ryota Funakoshi (2005 Chiba Lotte Marines Jr. / 2015 Hiroshima Toyo 4th round pick)

Keisuke Amitani (2009 Chiba Lotte Marines Jr. / 2015 Yokohama DeNA Developmental Draft Pick #1)

Yuya Gunji (2009: Chiba Lotte Marines, Jr. / 2019: Chunichi, 4th place)

Taisei Tsurusaki (2009 Chiba Lotte Marines Rakuten Eagles 2019 Tohoku Rakuten 3rd round pick)

Shoma Fujihira (2010 Chiba Lotte Marines Rakuten Eagles 2016 Tohoku Rakuten 1st round pick)

Naofumi Kizawa (Chiba Lotte Marines, Jr., 2010 / 1st place at the Yakult, Tokyo 2020)

Raito Ikeda (2011 Chiba Lotte Marines Chiba Lotte Marines 2021 Chiba Lotte 2nd round pick)

Kota Ishibashi (2012: Chiba Lotte Marines Jr. / 2018: Chunichi, 4th place)

Yua Tamiya (2012: Chiba Lotte Marines Jr. / 2018: Hokkaido Nippon-Ham, 6th place)

Masaki Oikawa (2013 Chiba Lotte Marines Hanshin Tigers 2019 Hanshin 3rd round pick)

Soshi Yoshino (2015 Chiba Lotte Marines Rakuten Eagles Tohoku Rakuten 1st round pick)

Naoki Arizono (2015: Chiba Lotte Marines, Jr. / 2021: Hokkaido Nippon-Ham, 2nd place)

Kaisei Kurokawa (2016 Chiba Lotte Marines Chiba Lotte Marines 2022 Chiba Lotte Development Draft 4th Round)

Yusei Ishizuka (2018 Chiba Lotte Marines Jr. / 2024 Yomiuri 1st round pick)