Teruki Yamashita was selected first by the Tokyo Yakult Swallows, Ginji Miura was selected fourth by the Yokohama DeNA BayStars, and Yuki Okada was selected fifth by the Yomiuri Giants at the Professional Baseball Draft Conference

At the 2021 Professional Baseball Draft held on Monday, October 11, baseball player Teruki Yamashita (4th year, Department of Business StrategyFaculty of Business Administration ) was selected first by the Tokyo Yakult Swallows, Ginji Miura (4th year, Department of Lifelong Learning and Career StudiesFaculty of Lifelong Learning and Career Studies ) was selected fourth by the Yokohama DeNA BayStars, and Yuki Okada was selected fifth by the Yomiuri Giants. Yuki Okada (4th year, Department of Sustainability StudiesFaculty of Sustainability Studies ) was selected 5th by the Yomiuri Giants.

From the viewpoint of preventing the spread of new coronavirus infection, the press conference was held online, and each player shared his thoughts on the nomination and his aspirations for the future as follows.

Yamashita: I am very relieved now. It took me more than a year to rehabilitate from my injury and I had a hard time, but I am happy to have been nominated. I would like to pitch with a straight line, which is my weapon, and prepare myself well for the season opener.

Miura: I am very happy to have been nominated. I want to tell my mother that my dream has finally come true. First of all, I hope to achieve solid results in the position I have been given. I want to improve the quality of my straight ball and become an acceptable player.

Okada: I was worried about whether I would be nominated, but now I am very happy. I will do my best each and every day and show my appreciation to those who support me through my play. I want to become a player who can play in all three categories.

Please continue to give your warm support to Yamashita, Miura, and Okada as they continue their careers in the world of professional baseball.

Masks are removed only during press conferences and photo shoots.