The NPB offseason’s biggest headline-grabber is here—the 4th Active Player Draft, held online from 1 p.m. with results expected by evening.
This system is designed to give underused players a new opportunity, but as always, fans are torn between “Who are we losing?” and “Who might join us?”

On X (formerly Twitter), predictions and mixed emotions have been flooding timelines since early morning. Below is a curated roundup of fresh posts (Dec 8–9), organized by team and centered on general fans rather than influencers.
And yes—beware of fake images this year, too. (Many still remember last year’s fabricated “Imagawa transfer” screenshot!)

Overall Mood: Half Excited, Half Anxious

Fans across the league feel a bittersweet tension: “It’ll be sad to lose someone… but it could be their big break.”
Success stories from past drafts—Seiya Hosokawa, Koutaro Otake, and others—fuel hopes for another breakout star.
On the pessimistic side, some insist the draft is “nothing but a dump of near-cut candidates.”
Former players like Yutaka Takagi and Tomoya Satozaki boosted the buzz with predictions and mock drafts, one post even joking that today is “more exciting than the M-1 Grand Prix.”

Central League Fans React

Hanshin Tigers
Yokohama DeNA BayStars
Yomiuri Giants
Chunichi Dragons
Hiroshima Carp
Tokyo Yakult Swallows
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters
Orix Buffaloes
Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles
Saitama Seibu Lions
Chiba Lotte Marines

Hanshin Tigers

Fresh off a championship, Hanshin fans are eager for reinforcements. The appearance of Kodai Inoue on the list sparked nervous speculation: “What are the chances he actually gets picked?”
A common theme: “We need pitching—again!”

Representative posts:

“If Shimada goes, I’ll give up ramen for 53 days; if Inoue goes, I’m buying a Nakagawa jersey. Anyway… we need pitchers again this year.” —@yuki2525star
“Predictions for who Hanshin might lose are usually spot-on… which scares me.” —@ra_tiger13
“Excited about who might arrive, but anxious about who might leave…” —@ra_tiger13

Yokohama DeNA BayStars

With Taiga Kamichatani’s transfer to SoftBank still fresh, fans are bracing for another surprise. Many hope for bullpen help.

“We’ve had a great offseason so far—hoping this draft adds one more strong piece!” —@yusuke_me_gura
Predictive posts frequently mention players “likely to flow to DeNA.” —@cafe_aulate_kJ

Yomiuri Giants

Satozaki’s mock draft stirred discussion, with names like Hagio, Okada, Sasaki, Asano, Wakabayashi, and Mitsuzuka circulating. The defense-first approach is widely supported.

“Satozaki’s predictions feel uncomfortably realistic…” —@ruby0121
Multiple posts cite @fukudasun’s list of potential Giants candidates.

Chunichi Dragons

Dragons fans proudly reference Seiya Hosokawa’s breakout, yet nearly every thread includes “We need pitching!”
Names like Neo, Ukai, and Hama evoke emotional debates—“Set them free for more opportunities?”

“Chunichi needs a legit pitcher. Our young arms still feel unfinished.” —@kitano5505
“I love Neo, but maybe he’d thrive elsewhere…” —@homura1106_
“Ukai could explode with a change of scenery.” —@h_onuru

Hiroshima Carp

Past wins (Tonegawa, Uchima) give fans confidence, though the mention of Kouta Hayashi or Daido draws painful reactions.

“If Hayashi or Daido go… it’ll hurt.” —@akaisuisei0405
“Hope the system evolves so more players actually get playing time after moving.” —@chie131_c1831

Tokyo Yakult Swallows

Yakult fans lean optimistic, recalling their successful pickup of Takumi Kitamura. Many feel the club plays the draft conservatively.

“Yasu isn’t on the list! Good!” —@n1n1m2ocha73
“Rules changed this year—curious how it affects things. Someone will leave and someone will come; let’s hope things shift for the better.” —@TsubameZoku
“Being in the draft isn’t something to pity—it’s a chance for players whose talent hasn’t been unlocked yet.” —@swllwswllws

Pacific League Fans React

Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks

With a reputation for “collecting talent,” Hawks fans worry about losing key depth pieces such as catcher Riku Watanabe.

“Draft picks usually end up with SoftBank, Nippon-Ham, Orix, Hanshin, Giants, or DeNA.” —@cafe_aulate_kJ
“It’s draft day… I’m nervous lol.” —@komnyanjanjan

Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters

Predictions involving Daigo Kamikawabata have fans on alert.
And yes—the trauma of last year’s delayed announcement lingers.

“To whoever made that fake Imagawa image last year—I still haven’t forgiven you.” —@ham_sand_ieyasu

Orix Buffaloes

The fanbase reacted with shock: “Why are they exposing such big names!?”

“Orix putting major players on the list… unbelievable.” —@kinbricksnow

Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles

Names like Tsurusaki and Kazuki Tanaka spark cautious optimism for an outfield upgrade.

“Hope someone grabs him—he can really play!” —@askt601

Saitama Seibu Lions

The mention of Junichiro Kishi has supporters dreaming of defensive improvement.

“By the time I finish work, the draft results will be out… I just want each player to seize their chance.” —@ALLoversLeoLina

Chiba Lotte Marines

With Koshiro Wada rumored as a candidate, fans worry about an outfield drain.
Also high on their radar: misinformation.

“Will the annual draft-day trolls show up again?!” —@NemotoMarines87

Spotlight: Shuto Sakurai — A Case Study in What the Active Draft Can Do

Here is a fully updated profile of Shuto Sakurai, one of the best examples of the draft giving a player new life.

Profile

Born: June 25, 1999 (Tokorozawa, Saitama)
Position: LHP
Known for: The “Kiyomiya Killer” in high school (Nichidai Third)

NPB Career Path

2017: Drafted 5th by DeNA
Served as both starter and reliever; 2021 saw 5 games (ERA 4.50)
Returned from developmental contract in 2023

Active Draft Move (2023)

Transferred from DeNA → Rakuten in the 2nd Active Draft (Dec 8, 2023).
Made headlines for declaring he wanted to face his classmates Kiyomiya and Yasuda.

Rakuten (2024)

8 games, 0.84 ERA, 10.2 innings, 1 earned run
Strong but limited first-team usage
Farm: 36 games, ERA 3.38
Salary jump: 12M → 20M yen (+67%)

2024 Offseason → Present

Released Oct 5, 2024
Took part in tryouts
Competed in Caribbean Series
Signed with CPBL’s TSG Hawks after passing a January 2025 tryout
Announced on X: “I’ve signed with the TSG Hawks.”
Now pitching as one of the team’s seven foreign arms.

Rank	Player	Former → New Team	Year	Post-Draft Highlights	Salary Rise	Evaluation
1	Seiya Hosokawa	DeNA → Chunichi	2022	Two straight 30-HR seasons; 2024 RBI leader	+733%	The greatest success of the Active Draft era
2	Kotaro Otake	SoftBank → Hanshin	2022	10–2, ERA 2.26; 2023 wins leader	+588%	A pillar of Hanshin’s championship
3	Aito	Seibu → Lotte	2023	.291 / 12 HR / OPS .812	+316%	Becoming a top-tier OF, near FA
4	Yutaro Watanabe	Seibu → SoftBank	2022	50+ games two years straight	+309%	A bullpen cornerstone
5	Naomasa Yokawa	Hanshin → Seibu	2022	.278, 18 HR	+200%	A reliable middle-order bat
6	Shun Mizutani	SoftBank → Rakuten	2023	.301, plus elite speed	+275%	Emerging leadoff candidate
7	Isamu Nomura	SoftBank → Orix	2023	.265, 15 HR, SS regular contention	+255%	Surpassed expectations
8	Shuto Sakurai	DeNA → Rakuten	2023	0.84 ERA in 2024	+67%	Draft revived his career; now in CPBL
9	Taisei Urushihara	Orix → Fighters	2022	55 games, ERA 2.45	+169%	“Like a lottery win,” said Shinjo
10	Yuya Shosui	Fighters → Hiroshima	2022	.333 as a pinch-hitter	+166%	A trusted lefty bench weapon

Final Thoughts

The Active Player Draft has proven one thing:
A change of scenery can completely transform a career.

The 2022 class was extraordinarily fruitful, and the trend continued in 2023–24 with stars like Aito, Mizutani, and Nomura.

So who will become “the next Hosokawa” or “the next Otake” in today’s 4th Draft (Dec 9, 2025)?
We’ll break down the results as soon as they drop—stay tuned, and enjoy the ride. ⚾

NPB 2025 Active Player Draft: Real-Time Fan Reactions and Team-by-Team Buzz