Kenny Ishikawa (22), pitcher from the University of Georgia, was selected by the Cincinnati Reds in the 13th round (392nd overall) of the MLB draft held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on the 12th (13th Japan time). The MLB official website lists his position as "two-way player." In response, Orix Buffaloes Buffaloes General Manager Yuichi Kohama (58) said, "Of course, our primary goal is for him to join Orix Buffaloes, but it is his life, so we will respect his wishes."

In the NPB draft in October 2013, he was selected in the sixth round, and, respecting his wishes, highly valued as a two-way player, similar to the Reds. In November of the same year, GM Fukura and other team officials traveled to the United States to formally greet him after the selection, conveying their enthusiasm. The team's negotiation deadline is the 31st of this month, and they currently have 67 players under contract out of a maximum of 70. They await the decision of the promising 22-year-old prospect.

◆Kenny Ishikawa Born April 7, 2004, on Oahu, Hawaii. Age 22. He played for Seya Little Senior while attending Yokohama Municipal Hara Junior High School, and then went on to Meishu Gakuen Hitachi High School. He was on the bench from his freshman year at Asia University, but went to the US midway through his sophomore year and entered Seattle University in 2014. In his first year in the US, he made 19 appearances as pitcher, with a record of 5 wins and 6 losses and ERA 4.21, and played in 52 games as hitter, hitting 8 Home Run, driving in 32 RBI, and batting .318. This season at the University of Georgia, he made 10 appearances as pitcher, with a record of 1 win and 1 loss and ERA 14.44, and played in 48 games as hitter, hitting 3 Home Run, driving in 21 RBI and left-handed batter.