Overview
- The Yomiuri Giants started their rookie joint workouts on Jan. 13 at Giants Town Stadium in Inagi, with top pick Kazuyuki Takemaru praising the facility and focusing on building up for camp.
- Manager Shinnosuke Abe told newcomers the sessions are not auditions, stressing fitness, injury prevention, and getting comfortable with the professional environment.
- Rookie programs across clubs feature fundamentals and measurements, including catch play, running drills, and standing long jump tests.
- Chunichi’s second‑round pick Yorinosuke Sakurai, a 175‑cm right‑hander from Tohoku Fukushi University, has been clocked at up to 153 km/h and is noted for advanced control.
- Chunichi third‑rounder Kunitada Shinozaki wields a fastball up to 157 km/h, with scout Kei Nomoto projecting early short‑inning use as MLB scouts reportedly track his upside.