2025 Senbatsu Kicks Off! A Final Look at the ‘Big 3’ Pitchers – Plus Yokohama’s Super Freshman

Yokohama High School’s Shoki Oda (New 2nd Year)

His idol is Daisuke Matsuzaka

Both Kendai Takasaki and Toyo University Himeji are strong contenders for this year’s Senbatsu championship, but the clear favorite is Yokohama, the “Yokozuna of the East,” which won the Meiji Jingu Tournament. Forming a dual-ace partnership with senior left-hander Raito Okumura is Shoki Oda. Born in Kitakyushu, Oda honed his skills in rubber baseball during middle school.

“In my third year of middle school, Yokohama’s manager, Hiroaki Murata (38), reached out to me, and I decided to enroll. My idol is Daisuke Matsuzaka (44). I watched various videos and studied him during middle school. I always think about how I can get closer to him while practicing.”

Unlike third-year players Ishigaki and Sakashita, Oda was born in 2008 and is still just 16 years old. He was born ten years after Matsuzaka became a Koshien hero with his spring-summer championship wins. Oda made the bench right after entering high school and even pitched a shutout against Meitoku Gijuku, led by legendary coach Shiro Mabuchi (69), in the Meiji Jingu Tournament. His fastball velocity has steadily increased since entering high school, now reaching an impressive 151 km/h. For Oda, the mound is a place where he can feel his daily growth.

“I sometimes get too focused on the stadium’s speed gun, and my coach and Okumura-san have told me, ‘Stop looking at the speed gun (velocity) during games’ (laughs).”

Despite his towering 185 cm height, he weighs just over 70 kg, giving him a relatively slender frame. However, he utilizes his shoulder and elbow flexibility well and possesses an array of pitches, including a changeup, curveball, and slider. His pitching style is actually more reminiscent of Roki Sasaki (23, Dodgers) than Matsuzaka. In other words, he is a raw gem with infinite potential and is likely to be a central figure in next year’s draft.

The 97th Senbatsu Tournament is set to be dominated by one of the “BIG 3” pitchers.

From “FRIDAY”, March 28, 2025 issue.