Yomiuri Giants Pick Kaito Ito in Baseball Draft
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The Yomiuri Giants have selected Kaito Ito, a batter from Chuo University, with their fifth-round pick in Japan's professional baseball draft, a yearly event in which teams across the league choose promising amateur players.
Ito, a right-handed hitter, has drawn attention for his impressive long-ball power, the ability to drive the ball over long distances for home runs and extra-base hits.
In a recent college game, Ito produced a dramatic walk-off home run, referred to in Japanese baseball as a sayonara hit, instantly ending the match in his team's favour.
Speaking after the game, Ito reflected on his development, saying there had been many things he was able to improve upon since becoming a fourth-year student.
His comments suggest a season of personal growth, both on and off the field, as he prepared for the professional draft.
Throughout the season, Ito had been regarded as a notable draft candidate, a term used for amateur players expected to be chosen by professional teams.
He reportedly used his final collegiate opportunities to showcase his hitting ability in front of scouts, who closely monitor player performances before the draft.
Chuo University competes in the Toto league, one of the major university baseball leagues in Japan, known for producing strong professional prospects.
During the same final week of the Toto league season, another Chuo University player, pitcher Tounona, also delivered a standout performance.
Tounona pitched six innings without allowing a single run, further highlighting the strength of Chuo University's baseball program this year.
The combined performances of Ito and Tounona have placed Chuo University firmly in the spotlight as the college season concluded.
With his selection by the Giants, Ito now moves from the amateur ranks into professional baseball, joining one of Japan's most storied and popular franchises.
His transition marks the beginning of a new chapter, as he aims to translate his collegiate success, particularly his power hitting, into a professional career.
Vocabulary7 words
- draft
- a yearly event where teams pick new players
- long-ball power
- the ability to hit the ball very far
- sayonara
- a hit that wins the game at the very last moment
- draft candidate
- a player who might be chosen by a team
- scouts
- people who watch players to find new talent
- Toto
- a university baseball league in Japan
- leagues
- groups of teams that play against each other
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Quiz
Answer key
1. Fifth round 2. Sayonara 3. True
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Discussion questions
- Why do you think long-ball power is an attractive quality for professional baseball teams?
- What does Ito's comment about personal growth suggest about his development as a player?
- How might being watched by scouts affect a player's performance during their final season?
- Do you think strong individual performances, like Ito's and Tounona's, can influence how a university's baseball program is viewed?
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