On the 16th, Seibu Lions announced that they had signed Francisco Aponte to a developmental player contract.

Francisco Aponte commented through the team, "I am filled with gratitude for the opportunity to become a part of the prestigious Saitama Seibu Lions. Although it is a foreign country far away, I am looking forward to being able to baseball I love. I want to grow as a player and become the best player I can be, always giving my best. I would appreciate your support."

Hiroshi Hiroike, Director and General Manager of the team, explained the circumstances of the acquisition, saying, "Aponte is a 17-year-old short stop whose strengths are his height and speed. He was highly rated by scouts during a series of tryouts in the Dominican Republic, and although there was competition from Major League teams, we have decided to acquire him. This is the first time our team has acquired an amateur player from the Dominican Republic, so we will learn together with him and support his growth. He is still growing taller, and we believe that his speed, power, and technique will continue to improve as his body grows. We will make sure to develop him into a player who can play in the first team."

▼ Francisco Aponte's Profile

Date of birth: May 20, 2009

Height/Weight: 196cm/80kg

Birthplace: Dominican Republic

Background: Emma Romana Sanchez High School

Position: infielder

Throwing/batting: Right-handed pitching/Left-handed pitching

number: 147