Saitama Seibu Lions signed a developmental player contract with Francisco Aponte, a player from the Dominican Republic. He is a infielder who throws right-handed and bats left-handed, stands 196 cm tall, weighs 80 kg, and is 17 years old.

▼ Aponte Player Comment ▼
"I am filled with gratitude to have the opportunity to become a member of the prestigious Saitama Seibu Lions team. Although this is a distant foreign land, I am thrilled to be able to do the baseball I love. I want to grow as a player and always strive to be the best player who does my best. Thank you for your support."

▼ Comment from Team General Manager Koji Hiroike ▼
"Aponte is a tall, 17-year-old short stop with speed as his weapon. He was highly regarded by scouts through repeated tryouts locally, and although he competed with major league teams, he was acquired. This is the first time our team has acquired an amateur player from the Dominican Republic, so we will continue to learn and support his growth together. He continues to grow taller, and as his body develops, I believe he will steadily acquire speed, power, and technique. We will firmly develop him into a player who can perform on the first team."