The Hanshin Tigers said Tuesday they plan to select a 15-year-old right-hander in the amateur draft.
Team officials said they will choose Kento Tsujimoto, who is back in Japan taking time off from his high school in the United States, but did not specify which round the Hyogo native will be selected in Wednesday's draft.
If all goes as planned, Tsujimoto will become the youngest player to be picked since the draft was established in 1965.
"I can't tell you what order he will be selected but he will be selected," said Masahiro Kuroda, in charge of Hanshin team acquisitions, adding that there have been no objections to his selection despite the boy's young age. "I can't imagine what he can do yet but we're looking forward to seeing his talent. I think he will be somewhere near the bottom," added Kuroda, suggesting that Tsujimoto will probably be selected after the fifth round.