Wikipedia

Developmental player system (Nippon Professional Baseball)

The Developmental Player System (育成選手制度, Ikusei Sensyu Seido) is a system that allows players to be held for the purpose of training players separately from the 70 registered players under control of each team created in the fall of 2005 at Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).[1]

Summary edit

This system was established in 2005 to create an environment in which amateur players can newly play in the situation where company-owned amateur baseball teams were being abolished one after another.[2] A Developmental player (育成選手, Ikusei Sensyu) is a player who aims to improve baseball skill training and manner training in order to aim for registered players under control, that is eligible to participate in NPB's first league official game (Central League, Pacific League, Interleague play (NPB)). (Regulations for NPB Developmental players, Article 2)[3]

A developmental players include players drafted as rookies (e.g. Yusuke Kosai and Michitaka Nishiyama, drafted developmental player who were first signed as a registered player under control in 2006.), foreign players signed as developmental players (e.g., Raidel Martínez, Liván Moinelo.), players drafted as registered players under control but re-signed with a team as developmental players due to their abilities (e.g., Kenta Kurose - Re-signed as a registered player under control.), players who became free agents with their former team and signed with another team (e.g., Masaru Nakamura, Kouya Fujii - Re-signed as a registered player under control.), and players who were removed from the registration of players under control and re-signed as a developmental player due to treat injuries (e.g., Takuya Kuwahara, Hiroya Shimamoto.). There is an argument that eliminating players who cannot play due to injury from the registration of players under control and re-signing them as developmental players will protect their careers. On the other hand, the use of the developmental players system instead of the Major League Baseball (MLB) Injured list system is criticized as contrary to the original principle of this system, which is to open the door to amateur players and develop them.[4] The oldest player to become a developmental player is Soichi Fujita, who signed in 2011 at the age of 39. The longest period as a developmental player was Kousuke Naruse [jp]'s eight seasons (2011-2018) as of the 2022 season.

Regulations for Developmental Player edit

Player Rules
  • Basically, they are not allowed to participate in official NPB games. However, up to five players per team per game are allowed to play in the Eastern League and Western League for developmental players.[1] Other players play in practice games for the second squad. And make up the third squad, like the Yomiuri Giants and the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, and play in games against independent league teams such as the Shikoku Island League Plus and Baseball Challenge League, corporate amateur teams, and university teams.[5][6] The Hawks’ｓ third squad play more than 100 games a year.[7] But there is a difference in contract between a registered players under control and a developmental players, but unlike the relationship between major leaguers and minor leaguers in Major League Baseball, they are players on the same team. They use the same practice facility and player dormitory.[8]
  • The contract is for a maximum of three years, but after the fourth year, the player can become a free agent once and sign with the same team again.[1] After the fourth season, the contract will be for one year, and after each season, the NPB will announce the free agent status, after which the player can re-sign.[9] This measure is intended to increase the player's chances of signing a registration of players under control contract, and during the free agent period, he can negotiate with other teams. In 2019, Hiroki Hasegawa moved from the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks to the Tokyo Yakult Swallows.[10] A one-year contract is also possible for a registered players under control to re-sign as a developmental player after a free agent announcement has been made. (Regulations for NPB Developmental players, Article 10)[3] Players who have not been under contract for three seasons will be placed on the roster of pending developmental players, and other teams will not be able to negotiate with them.[11]
  • The minimum salary is 2.4 million yen and 3 million yen is paid as a preparation fee when drafted.[1] However, since there is no cap on annual salary, some teams sign players at higher salaries, and players who are re-signed as developmental players from a registered players under control often maintain the salary level of a registered players under control.[12][13] The number on the back of the uniform of the developmental players will be a three-digit number (e.g. 110, or 001).
Regulations for teams that own developmental players
  • The deadline for re-signing a developmental player as a registered players under control is from the end of the season to July 31st during the following season, as stated above.However, it is not permitted to change from a registered players under control to a developmental contract during the season.[1]
  • A developmental players can only be owned by teams with at least 65 controlled players as of July 31, and teams with fewer than 65 controlled players cannot own them. However, if a team reports to the Executive Committee that it has re-signed a developmental player as a controlled player or acquired a new controlled player to bring the number of controlled players to 65 or more, and if this is approved, the team may retain the developmental player. (Regulations for NPB Developmental players, Article 3)[3] There is no limit to the number of developmental players owned.[14] Some teams, such as the Yomiuri Giants and Fukuoka Softbank Hawks, have more than 30 players and use a 3-team system, while others, such as the Hanshin Tigers, have only a few players, depending on the team's policy.[15][16][17] The Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks have selected 14 new developmental players in the 2022 draft to implement a four-team system from the 2023 season.[18]
Developmental Players Draft Meeting
  • If the total number of players selected at the end of the Rookie Player Selection Conference has not reached 120, a Developmental Players Selection Meeting will be held with the participation of the teams that wish to participate.[19]
Developmental players trade
  • Article 11 of the Nippon Professional Baseball Developed Player Regulations states that a trade of a developmental player held by July 31 is allowed, but as of the 2022 season, there are no examples of such a trade.[3]

Outcome edit

 
Kodai Senga with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks

The developmental player system, which began in the 2005 season, has been successful in producing major players for each team. (e.g. Yoshiki Sunada, Yuji Nishino) The Yomiuri Giants, who have been working on this system since early on, have signed more than 50 developmental players as their registered players under control as of the 2022 season. The Fukuoka Softbank Hawks have also signed 40 developmental players as their registered players under control, and have produced players like Kodai Senga and Takuya Kai who have won league titles and awards and represented Japanese baseball on the national baseball team.[20] The Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, which had been reluctant to acquire developmental players, drafted a player as a developmental player for the first time in the 2018 draft.[21] In the 2022 draft, 51 players will be selected as developmental players, the largest number in history, and the acquisition of developmental players is a growing trend.[22]

Holders of league titles and awards from developmental players
Player Name Team enrollment League Titles and Awards
Shuta Ishikawa Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks 2013 Draft. 1× Pacific League winning percentage leader (2020)
1× Pacific League the most wins Champion (2020)
Pitched a no-hitter on August 18, 2023
Takuya Kai Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks 2010 Draft. 6× Pacific League Golden Glove Award (2017–2022)
3× Pacific League Best Nine Award (2017, 2020. 2022)
Raidel Martínez Chunichi Dragons Signed in 2017. 1× Central League Saves leader (2022)
Tetsuya Matsumoto Yomiuri Giants 2006 Draft. 1× Central League Rookie of the Year (2009)
Liván Moinelo Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks Signed in 2017. 1× Pacific League Best Relief Pitcher Award (2020)
1× Pacific League Holds leader (2020)
Yoshifumi Okada Chiba Lotte Marines 2008 Draft. 2× Pacific League Golden Glove Award (2011, 2012)
Yariel Rodríguez Chunichi Dragons Signed in 2020. 1× Central League Best Relief Pitcher Award (2022)
1× Central League Holds leader (2022)
Kodai Senga Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks 2010 Draft. 2× Pacific League strikeout leader (2019, 2020)
1× Pacific League ERA leader (2020)
1× Pacific League winning percentage leader (2017)
1× Pacific League the most wins champion (2020)
2× Pacific League Best Nine Award (2019, 2020)
2× Pacific League Golden Glove Award (2019, 2020)
Pitched a no-hitter on September 6, 2019
Ukyo Shuto Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks 2017 Draft. 1×Pacific League Stolen bases Leader (2020)
Tetsuya Yamaguchi Yomiuri Giants 2005 Draft. 1× Central League Rookie of the Year (2009)
3× Central League Best Relief Pitcher Award (2009, 2012-2013)

Current developmental player rosters edit

Central League edit

Current Central League Developmental players rosters 2023
Position Players source
Chunichi Dragons
Pitchers [23]
Infielders
Outfielders
Hanshin Tigers
Pitchers [24]
Outfielders
Hiroshima Toyo Carp
Pitchers [25]
Infielders
Outfielders
Tokyo Yakult Swallows
Pitchers [26]
Catchers
Outfielders
Yokohama DeNA BayStars
Pitchers [27]
Catchers
Infielders
Outfielders
Yomiuri Giants
Pitchers [28]
Catchers
Infielders
Outfielders

Pacific League edit

Current Pacific League Developmental players rosters 2023
Position Players source
Chiba Lotte Marines
Pitchers [29]
Catchers
Infielders
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
Pitchers [30]
Catchers
Infielders
Outfielders
Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters
Pitchers [31]
Outfielders
Orix Buffaloes
Pitchers [32]
Catchers
Infielders
Outfielders
Saitama Seibu Lions
Pitchers [33]
Catchers
Infielders
Outfielders
Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles
Pitchers [34]
Catchers
Infielders
Outfielders

List of developmental players for the Nippon Professional Baseball edit

See also edit

References edit

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  2. ^ "Sports Navi baseball times 是か非か!? プロ野球「育成選手制度」＝インフォグラフィックで検証". Yahoo! Japan (in Japanese). December 21, 2015. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d "Regulations for Nippon Professional Baseball Developmental players" (PDF). Japan Professional Baseball Players Association Official site (in Japanese). Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  4. ^ "Weekly baseball HOT TOPIC FAのプロテクト対策? 故障者の育成契約に「疑問の声」が". Weekly baseball ONLINE (in Japanese). November 1, 2022. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  5. ^ "Yomiuri Giants game report 2022年6月4日　新潟アルビレックス－読売ジャイアンツ". Yomiuri Giants Official site (in Japanese). June 4, 2022. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  6. ^ "Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks game report 2022/8/10(水) 3軍試合結果 vs亜細亜大学". Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks Official site (in Japanese). August 10, 2022. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  7. ^ "Sports Hochi baseball news 【ソフトバンク】来季から球界初の4軍制導入　3軍戦に出場できない育成選手の実戦機会確保に期待". Sports Hochi (in Japanese). October 11, 2022. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  8. ^ "Web Sportiva news こりゃ強いわけだよ。新設されたホークス「二軍施設」がスゴすぎる". Shueisha (in Japanese). July 9, 2016. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
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  10. ^ "Nikkan Sports baseball news ソフトバンク育成長谷川宙輝がヤクルトへ支配下移籍". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). November 22, 2019. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  11. ^ "Nippon Professional Baseball public notice 公示 2023年度育成選手保留者名簿". NPB.jp (in Japanese). October 31, 2022. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  12. ^ "Nishinippon Sports baseball news ソフトバンク、育成13位の新潟医療福祉大・佐藤琢磨投手と入団合意". Nishinippon Shimbun (in Japanese). November 9, 2021. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  13. ^ "Sports Hochi baseball news 【中日】来季から育成契約の垣越建伸が推定525万円でサイン　中学チームメートの根尾昂の活躍に刺激". Sports Hochi (in Japanese). November 10, 2022. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  14. ^ "Yomiuri Shimbun Baseballnews ホークス 四軍構想…早ければ2023年の創設目指す". Yomiuri Shimbun (in Japanese). January 5, 2022. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  15. ^ "Yomiuri Giants 2022 Roster". NPB.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  16. ^ "Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks 2022 Roster". NPB.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  17. ^ "Hanshin Tigers 2022 Roster". NPB.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  18. ^ "Nikkan Sports baseball news 【ドラフト】育成ドラフトで最多更新の57人指名 4軍設立見据えるソフトバンクが最多14人". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). October 20, 2022. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  19. ^ "Nippon Professional Baseball 2022年 プロ野球ドラフト会議 supported by リポビタンD 選択手順". NPB.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  20. ^ "full-count.jp baseball terminology 育成出身が多数活躍、ホークスはなぜ選手が育つのか? 選手の言葉から検証". full-count.jp (in Japanese). August 15, 2017. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  21. ^ "Nikkan Sports baseball news 日本ハム初の育成指名　吉村ＧＭ「環境変化が理由」". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). October 26, 2018. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  22. ^ "Nikkan Sports baseball news 【ドラフト】年々増加する育成選手　昨年は史上最多51人、ソフトバンクは14人指名". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). October 20, 2022. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  23. ^ "Nippon Professional Baseball 2023年度 育成選手登録 中日ドラゴンズ 育成選手一覧". NPB.jp (in Japanese). July 26, 2023. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
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  27. ^ "Nippon Professional Baseball 2023年度 育成選手登録 横浜DeNAベイスターズ 育成選手一覧". NPB.jp (in Japanese). July 26, 2023. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  28. ^ "Nippon Professional Baseball 2023年度 育成選手登録 読売ジャイアンツ 育成選手一覧". NPB.jp (in Japanese). July 26, 2023. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  29. ^ "Nippon Professional Baseball 2023年度 育成選手登録 千葉ロッテマリーンズ 育成選手一覧". NPB.jp (in Japanese). July 26, 2023. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  30. ^ "Nippon Professional Baseball 2023年度 育成選手登録 福岡ソフトバンクホークス 育成選手一覧". NPB.jp (in Japanese). July 26, 2023. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  31. ^ "Nippon Professional Baseball 2023年度 育成選手登録 北海道日本ハムファイターズ 育成選手一覧". NPB.jp (in Japanese). July 26, 2023. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  32. ^ "Nippon Professional Baseball 2023年度 育成選手登録 オリックス・バファローズ 育成選手一覧". NPB.jp (in Japanese). July 26, 2023. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  33. ^ "Nippon Professional Baseball 2023年度 育成選手登録 埼玉西武ライオンズ 育成選手一覧". NPB.jp (in Japanese). July 26, 2023. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  34. ^ "Nippon Professional Baseball 2023年度 育成選手登録 東北楽天ゴールデンイーグルス 育成選手一覧". NPB.jp (in Japanese). July 26, 2023. Retrieved December 12, 2023.

External links edit

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