Daiei Hawks manager Sadaharu Oh met with hard-throwing pitcher Hayato Terahara on Monday, rounding off meetings with the high-school star and 10 professional clubs before the Nov. 19 amateur draft.
Oh and three Daiei officials visited Nichinan Gakuen high school in Miyazaki Prefecture before Terahara leaves for the World Cup tournament, which gets underway Nov. 6 in Taiwan, in a bid to convey the Pacific League club's eagerness to sign the 18-year-old.
Terahara is expected to be named by at least four Japanese clubs, including the Yomiuri Giants, the Yokohama BayStars and the Chunichi Dragons, in the first round of the upcoming draft, with a drawing of lots likely to determine his future. "Mr. Oh's visit had a big impact." Terahara said. "After all the meetings, I've narrowed down my choices.
It would be nice if the team that I want to join wins the negotiating right in the draft." Terahara, whose fastball clocked 154 kph at the national high school championships in August, has also received visits by representatives from the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Atlanta Braves.
However, he has hinted that he is not considering pursuing a career in the major leagues at the moment.