Patrick at NPB Tracker has been doing some fine NPB draft coverage. The biggest news, I suppose, internationally is that Junichi Tazawa wasn’t drafted by a team and will now be free to pursue his own interests. Imagine, a baseball player born of Japanese blood able to pursue his own baseball career wherever he wants. Call it a victory for human rights in Japan.

Deanna has full coverage of the draft.

In Korea, the draft is not broadcast live. The first round is comprised of regional signings (although they’re doing away with that this year), followed by a “second level” draft that runs more like a regular draft. Korean scouts do it in a room at the KBO offices and then release it to the media.

Another note involving the NPB draft was that a Korean was drafted. His name is Shin Son-Hyon and he was drafted in the 4th round by Hiroshima. According to this  Korean article Shin transferred to Kyoto International High School two years ago. In a previous post Patrick had mentioned a Japanese article saying that the boy, after watching  Japanese high school baseball on TV, liked it so much he wanted to  move to Japan  so he could play Japanese High School baseball.  

I found that idea a little  odd since Japanese high school baseball isn’t broadcast or really even covered  in Korea. Maybe he was travelling. Might have been something nice to tell the Japanese press, not that it matters one way or another. The Korean article, perhaps in its own stab at some mythmaking, says Shin stayed up until 2 a.m. every night honing his swing.

The Korean article also alludes to religious reasons for the move to Japan. Most importantly says he hit 30 home runs over four years in Japan. It also says he drew some light interest from the Braves and that Seibu worked him out, but that neither team was very impressed.  The Japanese article mentions Korean scouts were interested. The Korean article does not mention this. And the beat goes on.