[Full Text Published] Aoyama Gakuin’s Top Draft Prospects: Kai Watanabe & Yasunari Suzuki: “We Want to Become Players Who Represent Japanese Baseball”

The Draft Isn’t the End Goal

In the 61-year history of the draft since its introduction in 1965, there has never been a single instance where college catchers were the subject of a bidding war.However, if a team wants to secure the negotiating rights for Kai Watanabe (22), it will likely have to win the lottery. A true “champion-maker” who won the Summer Koshien tournament during his sophomore year at Chiben Wakayama High School and went on to win four national championships at Aoyama Gakuin University, he is a talent that any team would desperately want to sign.

With a sturdy build—standing 180 cm tall and weighing 92 kg—that seems almost out of proportion to his endearing smile, Watanabe spoke.

“I’m happy to be recognized, but the draft isn’t the finish line. I believe the real battle begins once I’m in the league. I aim to be a catcher who can hit, but first, I have to earn trust on defense—otherwise, a catcher can’t play in games. Throwing, catching, and blocking are all important, but I think my ability to read the flow of the game is my greatest strength.”

He’s been dedicated solely to catching since the second grade. It’s a rewarding position precisely because it controls the game and directly impacts the outcome.

“The pitcher is the star of baseball. But when we lose, it’s the catcher who takes the blame (laughs).”

For high school, he chose Chiben Wakayama High School—coached by Hitoshi Nakatani, a former Hanshin Tigers first-round draft pick and catcher—to learn the art of leadership from him.

“I thought the best way to make it to the pros as a catcher was to learn from Coach Nakatani, who had a long and successful career in the pros. He taught me not only the technical aspects but also the mindset needed for games and what to keep in mind as a catcher in my daily life. For example, even in the dorm, I’m always observing the pitching staff so I don’t miss even the slightest change in their physical condition. That comes in handy when calling the game.I did consider going straight from high school to the pros, but Coach Nakatani—drawing on his own experience of struggling after turning pro straight out of high school—recommended that I go to college instead.”

As a catcher with a strong bat, my baseball career had been marked by a string of victories since high school. However, this year—my first as captain—we finished second in the spring league, and we’re facing a tough challenge to win the fall championship as well.

“I’m keenly aware of how difficult baseball is, and I feel like this is a final test being put before me. To ensure Aoyama Gakuin remains a strong team, I want to give it my all.”

Kai Watanabe (Catcher)

“Open to Any of the 12 Teams”

Rumors suggest that several teams, including the Hanshin Tigers—who won the Central League championship—and the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, are interested in drafting Watanabe. Watanabe is approaching the draft with an “Open to All 12 Teams” mindset and does not have a specific team in mind.

“Coach Ando (Yasunori) at Aoyama Gakuin often tells me, ‘Becoming a professional baseball player means being assigned to one of the 12 departments within the company that is professional baseball.’ If there’s a team that wants me, I’d like to be taken under their wing and nurtured there.”

Watanabe isn’t the only one who has helped sustain Aoyama Gakuin’s golden era.Ace right-hander Yasunari Suzuki (22) also began pitching in the spring of his freshman year. Following in the footsteps of seniors like Hayato Tsunehiro (Hiroshima’s No. 1 draft pick in ’23) and Seiki Nakanishi (Chunichi’s No. 1 draft pick in ’25), he has now developed into the top pitcher of his generation, with a top speed of 155 km/h.

“There are plenty of pitchers who throw faster than I do. I think my strength lies in my ability to throw pitches with an unexpected element—ones you wouldn’t expect from my supple, unassuming delivery. A fastball that a batter might let pass, thinking it’ll bounce once, suddenly gains speed and becomes a strike. That’s the kind of pitch I’ve always strived for.”

When he was a sophomore at Tokai University Sugao High School, he suffered a stress fracture in his right elbow and decided to undergo surgery to secure his future. It was Coach Ando who scouted Suzuki, who was filled with anxiety at the time.

“The coach’s words were passionate, and I was really happy to hear them. I was immediately swayed to go to college.After entering college, I was able to experience victory consistently through my junior year. However, even though we won championships, there were games where we were backed into a corner, and I could feel the weight of every single pitch. I think it was a very fulfilling four years. The level of baseball in Japan is truly high. I want to hone my skills here in Japan and become a player who represents the baseball world.”

Suzuki had this to say about his teammate, Watanabe:

“Ever since our freshman year, he’s never cut corners in practice and has always been driven to improve. He’s the kind of person who motivates me to keep up—I can’t afford to fall behind. He’s a great teammate, and I think he’ll be my rival even after we turn pro.”

The fateful day is October 22. When asked to predict their draft positions, Watanabe and Suzuki both held up a single index finger without hesitation.

Yasunari Suzuki (Pitcher)

From the October 23 & 30, 2026, combined issue of “FRIDAY”