Hanshin Tigers

The Tigers plan to start their rookie training camp on 1/8 next year.  Up until last year, rookie training camp began around 1/13.  This year, it started on 1/9.  The reason why the team decided to speed up the start of rookie training camp beginning with this year is because they wanted to make sure their rookies had enough time to prepare for spring camp -- in 2010 Kazuhito Futagami and Masanori Fujihara both suffered injured during spring camp.

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The Tigers held physical fitness tests for the 2011 draft class on Sunday.

1st round draft pick Hayata Ito performed 21 chin-ups (top).

2nd round draft pick Hiroaki Saiuchi hit 172kg on the back muscle strength scale.

5th round draft pick Ryoma Matsuda could manage only one chin-up.  Matsuda did not do a lot of weight training in high school.

The players also had a chance check out the facilities (locker rooms, cafeteria).

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Yutaka Wada told reporters on Friday that he was thinking about giving 1st round draft pick Hayata Ito a try at all outfield positions during spring camp.  The hope is to narrow down a primary position (likely center) and a secondary position (either RF or LF).

The Softbank Hawks held a press conference at a hotel in Fukuoka in order to introduce their 2011 draft class.

The Hawks have made a video of the event available at Ustream.

Uniform Numbers

Softbank Hawks

All five players the Hawks drafted this year passed their medical examinations on Friday.

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4th round draft pick Naoki Shirane has apparently been advised by his high school manager not to step outside that much when in Fukuoka because he is trying to lose weight -- he has so far lost about 4kg since the summer and dropped his weight down to around 100kg.

Chiba Lotte Marines

1st round draft pick Takahiro Fujioka wants to learn how to throw an effective change.

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2nd round draft pick Yuhei Nakaushiro apparently has eight pitches in his arsenal and can throw each from three-quarters and from the side.

The Chiba Lotte Marines introduced their 2011 draft class today at the Keiyo Bank Culture Plaza in Chiba.  Uniform numbers were also assigned.

Uniform Numbers

Softbank Hawks

The Hawks have unofficially decided to assign 1st round draft pick Shota Takeda the number 30.

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The five players the Hawks drafted this year arrived in Fukuoka on Thursday.  Their schedule over the next few days: medical examinations on Friday; press conference introductions on Saturday; fan appreciate day introductions on Sunday.

Chiba Lotte Marines

The Mariners are held an event on 12/8 introducing the team's 2011 draft class. Around 7,000 fans submitted entries for a chance to win one of 500 tickets.

Hanshin Tigers

1st round draft pick Hayato Ito made his Kansai radio debut on Wednesday (ABC Radio's Sports-ni Pitatto).  He was on the air between 17:40 and 18:00.

Ito also attended a Keio OB gathering in Osaka on Wednesday.

And Tomoaki Kanemoto told reporters on Wednesday that he would be more than happy to answer any questions Ito might have.

Yakult Swallows

The Swallows have decided to move 1st round draft pick Ryuhei Kawakami to a short to give him experience in the infield.

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500 fan club members (250 pairs) were invited to the press conference that introduced the team's 2011 draft class on Wednesday.

Hiroshima Carp

When the Carp decided to invite one hundred 2012 fan club members to their 2011 draft class press conference, they were not sure what to expect.  They ended up receiving 5,110 requests between the first day fan club membership registrations opened on 11/24 until the cutoff on 11/30.

The Yakult Swallows introduced their 2011 draft class at Yakult Hall in Tokyo today.  Uniform numbers were also assigned.

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The Seibu Lions introduced their 2011 draft class at the Seibu Railway offices in Tokorozawa, Saitama today.  Uniform numbers were also assigned.

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The Orix Buffaloes introduced their 2011 draft class during a press conference in Osaka earlier today.  Uniform numbers were also assigned.

Uniform Numbers

A couple of organizations are thinking about reaching out to Tomoyuki Sugano with opportunities to practice/play.

• The collegiate national baseball team is thinking about inviting him as a practice player at some point before the World University Baseball Championship in July 2012.  He could also technically be named to their roster, but the All Japan University Baseball Federation is not 100% on board with the idea.
• The Baseball Federation of Japan is considering him as a candidate for the national team that will be competing in the Asian Baseball Championship in August 2012.

Nippon Ham Fighters

When introducing the players the team drafting this year during a press conference on Saturday, scouting director Takashi Ofuchi explained Tomoyuki Sugano's absence with the following line: "Sugano-senshu could not be here with us today because we are still in the middle of negotiations with him."

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Hideki Kuriyama told reporters on Saturday he was thinking about starting 5th round draft pick Toshiharu Moriuchi at Ichi-gun spring camp next year.

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One of 7th round draft pick Takumi Oshima's goals is to catch Yuki Saito in a game.

Hanshin Tigers

Ikusei 1st round draft pick Seiya Hirokami and Softbank Ikusei 4th round draft pick Takashi Shimizu made appearances at a shopping mall in Isesaki, Gunma on Sunday.