CHAPTER 353: CHAPTER 6: FATE’S CHOICE

As the on-site host began announcing the names, the much-anticipated first round pick session commenced.

Based on last season’s league standings, the Yokohama BayStars, at the bottom of the Central League, were the first to reveal their choice for the first pick.

On the electronic big screen at the venue, the flag bearing the Yokohama BayStars emblem gently fluttered and then gradually faded away, marking the birth of the first confirmed professional player of the 2012 draft meeting.

"Touhama Kyo, pitcher, Asai University."

Almost at the same time his name appeared on the big screen, the live broadcast signal immediately switched to the sub-venue at Asai University. Touhama Kyo, selected by the Yokohama team, did not show any particularly excited expression on his face. Instead, it was his college team teammates beside him who were extraordinarily excited, each raising their hands and cheering.

Touhama Kyo hailed from Okinawa Shogaku High School and participated in the 2008 Spring Koshien Tournament as a third-year student. In that tournament, he served as the ace pitcher and secured his school’s second victory in Senbatsu High School Baseball Tournament in history.

As a Koshien champion player, Touhama Kyo did not choose to enter the draft after graduation, but instead joined Asai University, where he accumulated 420 strikeouts in the Tohto University League during his studies, making him a highly regarded representative pitcher in college baseball.

In this draft meeting, he was also one of the most anticipated "instant impact" pitchers, widely predicted to receive multiple nominations before the event.

Next up was the second team, the Orix Buffaloes, whose choice came as no surprise to the outsiders:

"Fujinami Jintaro, pitcher, Osaka Tsubaki High School."

Before the season, the Orix Buffaloes were seen as championship contenders due to numerous signings, but ended last season with only 57 wins, marking their worst team record in official matches since 2009. Mid-season, they experienced a 12-game losing streak—a result largely attributed to the complete collapse of their starting pitching rotation: the team had only one pitcher, Kisagaku Yoichi, who met the innings requirement for the entire season, and none had an ERA below 2.5.

This year’s draft coincides with an outstanding pool of pitchers, and the Orix’s initial target was to select one from the "Takayama Three Giants of pitching"; initially, they leaned towards choosing Lin Guanglai. However, after he declared his dual-role, they quickly gave up. In comparison, Fujinami Jintaro, a local talent from Osaka with comparable skills, naturally became their best choice.

The third team announcing their first pick is one of the traditional giants in Nippon Professional Baseball, the Hanshin Tigers, second only to the Yomiuri Giants in terms of fame.

For the Hanshin Tigers, who always aim for the Central League championship and to be Japan’s Number One, the past season was utterly disastrous: they finished fifth in official matches, battling bitterly with the Yokohama BayStars for a long period to avoid being at the bottom. The team lineup was seriously aging, with almost no promising players in the second team.

According to expert predictions, the Hanshin Tigers would likely choose a high school graduate in this draft meeting, putting aside Ohtani Shohei, who has already declared his intention to go to the U.S. Both Lin Guanglai and Fujinami Jintaro are possibilities.

In the auditorium of Waseda Jitsugyo, reporters and baseball team members were all focused on the Hanshin Tigers’ decision—if Lin Guanglai could join the Hanshin Tigers, his fame would likely rise another notch; after all, he hit exactly 20 home runs at the Koshien! Returning to the Koshien would feel just like coming home.

The answer was soon revealed: "Fujinami Jintaro, pitcher, Osaka Tsubaki High School."

When Fujinami Jintaro’s name appeared on the big screen, in Osaka Tsubaki, the team members and observing students burst into a huge cheer, giving enthusiastic applause to their pride, "Nansoku’s Darvish"—not many residing in the Kansai Region would dislike the Hanshin Tigers. Seeing their favorite team select their beloved player, the supporters of Osaka Tsubaki naturally felt a sense of pride akin to watching "a son of our own grow up."

Meanwhile, on the Waseda Jitsugyo side, the reporters, team members, and other spectators did not let out any sighs of disappointment, but the slightly disappointed look on their faces betrayed their feelings at that moment: although the children growing up in Tokyo don’t like or even dislike the Hanshin Tigers, given that the Yomiuri Giants have already confirmed their pick, this team is indeed one of the best destinations.

When the Chiba Lotte Marines announced their first pick for 2012, a massive noise erupted at the scene:

"Fujinami Jintaro, pitcher, Osaka Tsubaki High School."

Three-team first pick! Even looking back at Nippon Professional Baseball history, players who received such a treatment are rare.

Seeing this, the reporters present at Waseda Industries could not help but sigh, turning their heads to look at Lin Guanglai, seated on the chairman’s podium with an unfazed expression.

As the most dazzling high school graduate in this year, had he not made that "dual-role" declaration before the draft meeting commenced, the treatment now enjoyed by Fujinami Jintaro would rightfully have been his—in Japan, breaking conventions requires a lot of courage, and even if achieved, what is lost may very well outweigh what is gained.

If Lin Guanglai had peacefully submitted his application, according to experts’ estimates, conservatively, he could have received nominations from at least four teams; with the defiance-invoking data sheet he submitted during his high school phase, it would not be impossible to break the records set by Nomo Hideo and Koike Hideo for competing eight-team signings. As things stand, Lin Guanglai has to consider if there is any team willing to use their first pick to select him.