Koji Akiyama told reporters on Thursday that there may not be a captain this year.

Source: Nikkan Sports 1/25/2013

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2012 Draft Class

Pitching coach Ikuo Takayama spoke to reporters today and said that 1st round draft pick Nao Higashihama will likely head to Ichi-gun spring camp.  Final assignments will be decided during a staff meeting on Saturday.

Source: Sports Hochi 1/25/2013

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After taking a physical on Wednesday, 4th round draft pick Yusuke Masago was told that he has inner muscles that are seldom seen in Asian people.

"When I checked the size of his muscles during the ultrasound examination, I was suprised.  I do not get to see [muscles like this] very often.  [Masago] is right up there with all the other top class Japanese athletes I have examined.  You could say he has the raw materials needed to be an MLB player," said Masafumi Hara, the doctor that conducted the physical.

Source: Nikkan Sports 1/25/2013

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6th round draft pick Hirofumi Yamanaka threw twenty-six pitches in the bullpen today: twenty to a standing catcher, five to a squatting catcher, and the last to a half-bent catcher with his mitt set at the top-most portion of the strike zone.

Source: Nikkan Sports 1/25/2013