Yomiuri Giants: Scouting insights and player ambitions

Former Yomiuri Giants scouting director Iku Okazaki shared insights into the 2017 NPB draft, revealing that the team nearly changed its first-round pick from Kotaro Kiyomiya to another player due to internal approval processes. Ultimately, the team proceeded with Kiyomiya, but after losing the lottery, they selected Munetaka Murakami as their first unsuccessful pick.

Okazaki also discussed the team's strategic focus on catching talent, noting that the Giants prioritized selecting catchers like Takumi Ohshiro to address roster imbalances, despite public scrutiny. He emphasized that scouting should focus on the quality of a pitcher's delivery and a hitter's potential for growth and discipline rather than just raw speed or statistics.

Meanwhile, Giants infielder Yusei Ishizuka expressed his determination to become a core offensive player for the team in his upcoming third professional season. Following a season where he gained significant first-team experience, Ishizuka aims to secure a regular starting position and contribute to the team's pursuit of a league championship.