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4 clusters · 4 sources · 16 days · First seen · Last updated

High school and university players enter 2026 NPB Draft

Overview

Several high school and university baseball players have officially submitted their intent to participate in the 2026 NPB Draft, scheduled for October 22.

Initial declarations included pitchers Ryosuke Niwa of Ichikawa Wakayama, who has reached 151 km/h, and Eiji Kinoshita of Takagawa Gakuen, a three-time Koshien competitor with a personal best of 147 km/h. Takagawa Gakuen infielder Mea Wakato also applied.

Recent applicants include Ryota Kurokawa, a right-handed ace from Hanasaki Tokuharu who reaches 148 km/h and maintained a 0.47 ERA during a Spring Koshien top-eight run. Akihito Tanibuchi, a left-handed power hitter and infielder from Osaka Toin, also declared; he served as the cleanup hitter for the Spring Koshien championship team, batting .316.

Further declarations feature Yugo Suzuki, a versatile “two-way” player from Chukyo High School. Suzuki is a right-handed pitcher capable of 148 km/h who also possesses offensive skills in the infield and outfield; he recently led Chukyo to its first summer Koshien appearance in seven years and has gained international experience with the U-18 Japan representative team. Additionally, 22-year-old Haru Takekawa, a right-handed pitcher from Nihon University’s semi-hardball baseball club, has submitted his form. Takekawa has increased his fastball velocity to 152 km/h and recently participated in the North American Summer League in Missouri, USA.

Meiji University right-handed pitcher Naoto Matsumoto has also entered the draft. Matsumoto has maintained a career league ERA of 1.54 over 26 appearances and recorded a 1.10 ERA during eight relief appearances as a closer in his final spring season.

Entities

Takagawa Gakuen · Akihito Tanibuchi · Yugo Suzuki · Haru Takekawa · B.LEAGUE

Timeline

  1. [SPORTS] 2 sources
    Baseball prospects Suzuki and Takekawa submit professional aspiration forms

    Baseball prospects Yugo Suzuki of Chukyo High School and Haru Takekawa of Nihon University have submitted professional aspiration forms ahead of the October 22 NPB Draft.

  2. [SPORTS] 2 sources
    High school baseball stars declare intent for 2026 NPB Draft

    High school standouts Ryota Kurokawa, an ace pitcher from Hanasaki Tokuharu, and Akihito Tanibuchi, a power hitter from Osaka Toin, have submitted their professional intent for the 2026 NPB Draft.

  3. [SPORTS] 2 sources
    Mea Wakato submits application for 2026 professional baseball draft

    Takagawa Gakuen infielder Mea Wakato and pitcher Eiji Kinoshita have submitted applications for the 2026 professional baseball draft.

  4. [SPORTS] 3 sources
    High school pitchers submit professional intent for NPB Draft

    High school pitchers Ryosuke Niwa and Eiji Kinoshita have submitted professional intent forms ahead of the October 22 NPB Draft.

Sources

baseballchannel.jp · hochi.news · news.mynavi.jp · sakigake.jp

This summary has been updated 3 times: see revision history