Key prospects highlighted ahead of professional baseball draft

As the professional baseball draft approaches, attention is turning to standout pitchers Ren Miyahara and Keito Kashimura.

Ren Miyahara, a senior at Kinki University, is noted for his high-velocity fastball reaching 156 km/h and his ability to maintain stamina through nine innings. A member of the Samurai Japan University representative team, Miyahara is recognized for his meticulous pre-game preparation and his ability to utilize both a forkball and a splitball.

Keito Kashimura, a right-handed pitcher for Sega Sammy, has drawn interest despite his relatively small stature of 166 cm. Kashimura has demonstrated the ability to throw fastballs up to 153 km/h, with scouts noting his potential as a reliever who can disrupt batters' vision through unique release angles. Following the dissolution of his team, Kashimura has been eligible for selection through a special relief measure allowing first-year graduates from certain corporate teams to be drafted.