Chiba Lotte Marines has begun accepting applications for the selection process for The Marines Junior Team (for 6th graders), which will participate in the "NPB Junior Tournament KONAMI CUP 2026" scheduled to be held in late December, starting at 3 PM today, Monday the 22nd.

This selection process is open to sixth-grade elementary school students born between April 2, 2014 and April 1, 2015. The application period is from 3 PM on Monday, June 22 to 3 PM on Monday, July 6. The first selection round will be held on Tuesday, July 21, Wednesday, July 22, and Thursday, July 23, and will include activities such as 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.

Furthermore, The Marines Junior team has produced 17 players who have been drafted into professional baseball since its establishment in 2005, the most of any team in the league, including Chiba Lotte Marines 's Raito Ikeda.

▼Comment 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 (Mon) 15:00 to July 6th (Mon) 15:00
• First selection round: July 21st (Tue), 22nd (Wed), 23rd (Thu)
Selection criteria: Ball handling, long throw, swing, base running, infield defense, etc.
Participation fee: 1,000 yen (tax included)
• Venue: Fukuda Denshi ground (within Soga Sports Park, Chiba City) in case of clear weather / Inage Seaside Park Indoor Gymnasium in case of rain
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 refer to the team's official website.