Shogo Kiyohara’s Uncertain Future: Keio University Manager’s Heartfelt Confession 9 Days After Draft Day Snub
Shogo Kiyohara regretted not being selected in the draft meeting. Tetsuya Horii, the manager of Keio University’s baseball team, said, “I think Shogo will quit baseball.” Horii saw Shogo Kiyohara up close before and after the draft, and about his future. Interviewed with non-fiction writer Yuji Yanagawa. (First of three times)
◆◆◆
“Honestly, I think 99% of the time I won’t get drafted.”
On November 2nd, nine days after the fateful draft meeting, a cold rain had been falling at Keio University’s Shimoda ground since the night before. The baseball team of the athletic club, which is preparing for a match against Waseda University and Keio University the following weekend, had an open game scheduled for 10:30 a.m. against JFE East.
However, when it was time to play ball, the diamond remained covered with a sheet. It wasn’t until 11:00 a.m., when the rain had stopped, that the seats were finally removed and the players off the bench began preparing the ground all at once.
For the fourth-year students, this day will be their last practice match on their home field. The only thing we want to avoid is canceling the game, which is a milestone. The enthusiasm of the students was reflected in the prompt maintenance. The game started at noon, delayed by an hour and a half.
At the professional baseball draft meeting held on October 24th, the name of Shogo Kiyohara, whose father was Kazuhiro Kiyohara, who played for Seibu and Giants, was not called during the control period, nor was he called in the subsequent training draft. Ta.
“Honestly, I was prepared for not being nominated. I was 99% sure that I wouldn’t be nominated. Because I hadn’t received the survey report.”
That’s what Keio University coach Tetsuya Horii said. After the match against JFE East, he agreed to an exclusive interview with the author.
The research report that didn’t arrive…I’ll reveal my “regrets” now
Before the draft, the 12 NPB teams send a survey form to players who have the potential to be drafted, asking them to fill out physical measurements, physical condition, injury history, etc., to gauge their intentions to join the team. On the other hand, players whose nominations are “rank-bound” and who refuse to be nominated depending on their ranking will be sent back with a note of their intention. The fact that not a single report was sent to Shogo means that there were zero teams considering drafting him. Horii continues.