Has there ever been a meaningless pitch that could end up being so meaningful?
Thousands of fans filed into Sapporo Dome on Thursday as the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters unveiled their top draft pick Yuki Saito.
They hung on his every word at an introductory press conference and squealed with delight as Saito, dressed in a still unfamiliar Fighters uniform, took the mound and threw a pitch to manager Masataka Nashida, who crouched behind the plate.