NPB Draft: Orix Buffaloes and Chunichi Dragons meet first-round picks

Following the recent NPB draft, representatives from the Orix Buffaloes and Chunichi Dragons held official greeting ceremonies with their respective first-round selections.

Orix Buffaloes General Manager Junichi Fukura visited Fuji University to meet with pitcher Futo Kakuda. Kakuda, a right-handed pitcher known for a fastball reaching 153 km/h and a high strikeout rate, expressed his determination to become an immediate asset for the team. With several key pitchers currently sidelined due to injury, the club views Kakuda as a potential starter capable of contributing to the rotation immediately.

Chunichi Dragons manager Kimiyasu Kudo visited Kinki University to meet with pitcher Ren Miyahara. During the meeting, Kudo encouraged Miyahara to “dream big” and strive to become a pitcher representing Japan. The interaction, which was shared via the club's official YouTube channel, drew significant attention from fans following Kudo's recent appointment as manager.