Local News

At the Japanese professional baseball draft of amateur players held in Tokyo, the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks were one of four teams to draft pitcher Yuki Saito. The Nippon Ham Fighters won the lottery to negotiate with Saito, so the Hawks instead chose high school catcher Ayatsugu Yamashita from Chiba. Scouts say Yamashita has a strong arm and could develop into a power hitter.