Two draft picks ASARI and MUNEYAMA (From left)
The Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) Draft was held in Tokyo on October 24. YAMAMOTO Yuichiro (General Manager and professor at School of Commerce) and TANAKA Takehiro (manager), and fourth-year members of the baseball club gathered at the Tatsuo Kishimoto Hall on the 23rd floor of Liberty Tower at Meiji University’s Surugadai campus, which was also filled with reporters, to watch the live broadcast of the draft. Additionally, many students, faculty, and staff from Meiji University gathered at the public viewing area on the first floor of Liberty Tower to watch the broadcast.
Many students, faculty and staff gathered at the public viewing area
When MUNEYAMA (captain) was selected in the first round and ASARI (pitcher) in the third, cheers erupted from their teammates and they both broke into smiles, relieved of their tension. Players from Meiji University were selected in the NPB draft for the fifteenth consecutive year, setting the longest record in the university’s history.
In addition, an alumnus of Meiji University baseball club, TAKEDA Yu (Mitsubishi Heavy Industries West, School of Political Science and Economics, graduated in 2022) was picked in the first round by the Yokohama DeNA BayStars.
MUNEYAMA Rui (captain, 4th-year, School of Commerce)
Selected in the first round by the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, MUNEYAMA said, "I have worked hard all this time to reach this draft day and I am thrilled that my efforts have finally paid off. I hope to play in the first-team games from the beginning of the season, with the goal of winning Rookie of the Year Award, and to become a player that fans admire and support.
MUNEYAMA showing a smile, picked in the first round by the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles
MUNEYAMA talking about his aspirations after joining the team
MUNEYAMA says he hopes to become a player that fans admire and support
After the press conference, MORII Masayuki (president of the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles), ISHII Kazuhisa (senior director), and OKIHARA Yoshinori (scout), visited the campus and met with MUNEYAMA for the first time with delight.
MORII Masayuki, president (left), ISHII Kazuhisa, senior director (second from right), and OKIHARA Yoshinori, scout (right) / They rushed to Meiji University campus right after the draft
ISHII and Morii shaking hands with MUNEYAMA
ASARI Tamon (pitcher, 4th-year, School of Commerce)
Selected in the third round by the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, ASARI said, "My four years in the Meiji University baseball club significantly boosted my personal growth. I hope to be a valuable pitcher on the first team, using my downhill fastball as a key weapon.”
The scene when ASARI was picked in the third round by the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters
ASARI says he hopes to be a valuable pitcher on the first team
ASARI smiling with a fist pump
Autographs of MUNEYAMA and ASARI were donated to the baseball team exhibition booth in Tatsuo Kishimoto Hall on the 23rd floor of Liberty Tower.
ASARI and MUNEYAMA smiling, holding their autographs in hand
Donated autographs of MUNEYAMA and ASARI In the center is the autograph of the late HOSHINO Senichi
ASARI and MUNEYAMA celebrating with an embrace
Finally, the baseball club members tossed the two players into the air in celebration. The players seemed to be savoring the joy while being enthusiastically encouraged by their teammates.
ASARI expressing his joy raising his fists when his teammates tossed him in the air
All the fourth-year teammates sharing the joy