Hayato Terahara

It's funny, but I haven't heard a word about the possibility of any team other than a Japanese one drafting the young phenom. And with the changes in the draft this season, that poses a big risk for the 7 teams who have Terahara listed for number one.

Up until this year, teams could guarantee themselves at least one quality player from the industrial or university leagues in their first two draft picks with the gyaku-shimei ("reversed designation") system. Under it, a player would state what team he would be drafted by, and said team would have to draft him within the first two draft rounds. This allowed teams to go after high school players in their first round and still have a guarantee for a more mature player in the second.

However, this year, if a team waves the right to gyakyu-shimei player in the first round, they may not do so in the second round either. For popular teams like the Giants, Dragons, and Hawks, this becomes a point on which to give serious consideration. For, even if they don't draw Terahara in the drawing, they still don't get to gyaku-shimei an alternate in the first round either.

As stated above, 7 teams currently have Terahara slated as their number one pick: the Giants, BayStars, and Tigers in the Central League and Lions, Hawks, Fighters, and Marines in the Pacific League. While the Blue Wave and Buffaloes are pursuing more mature first round picks, all of the Pacific League teams are united in seeing Terahara come to and becoming the face of the Pacific League.

Really, I'm not trying to avoid the question. But the sources I read all focus on Terahara being drafted in November and don't seem to even consider an alternate posibility.

The reason I asked is because I have read that several major league teams (Mariners, Dodgers, Mets, Phillies, Braves among teams in the article) were scouting him. And the Mets were identified as the team most likely to make a push to sign him. Despite any efforts by ML teams, I would think that it would be tough on a Japanese teenager to come to the states.

Supposedly he is a Bartolo Colon type of pitcher with thick legs and an athletic build (despite being 5'10"). I read he threw the fastest pitch ever recorded in japan "98mph" and has a wicked curveball.

I hadn't read that he threw that fast, but rather that he does throw around 154 kph (96 mph) with some consistancy.

I'm sure there are quite a few lurkers out there who, like you, know more about Terahara than I but are just too shy to say anything.

For the curious, Baseball American discussed Terahara in their August 2001 Q&A section.

When is the Japanese Baseball draft, and has anyone heard if any MLB teams have offered Terahara money?

The draft is some time between mid to the end of November. I don't have the date in front of me right now.

That's the next biggest Yakyu event after the Nihon Series, so I'll post more information on the draft then.