[Nippon-Ham] Manager Shinjo: “Opening Day First Team” No. 1 draft pick Okawa: “An aura never seen before” number: “27”
Sports Hochi
2025.11.24(月) 12:30

Nippon-Ham ‘s first-round draft pick, pitcher Jay Okawa (Meiji University), has already earned a spot on the opening day first team.
On the 24th, at the announcement of new players at ESCON, Okawa was asked about his impression of Manager Shinjo, saying, “I met him for the first time yesterday, and he has an aura that really draws people in, something I’ve never seen before. When you notice him, your eyes are drawn to him, so I hope I can acquire that kind of aura myself with The Fighters.” Hearing this, the manager was delighted and announced, “He’ll be on the opening day first team.” He has already captured the manager’s heart and made his presence known.
The right-handed pitcher, who has been assigned the number 27 and has a fastest pitch of 155 km/h, vowed, “My selling point is my fastball that hits the opposing hitter, so I would like to make full use of that and pitch aggressively.”
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・ Nippon-Ham’ first draft pick, Jiei Okawa, admires Char from Mobile Suit Gundam… “They’re similar in that they’re not the main character” – provisional contract signed in Tokyo
・ The Meiji University duo of Seibu ‘s No. 1 pick Taiga Kojima and Nippon-Ham No. 1 pick Jiei Okawa are from the Boys League. Their mentor talks about their junior high school days… 11 players selected from the East Japan block
・ “He can probably throw at about 166 km/h,” says Nippon-Ham manager Shinjo, who has confirmed that Leo Shibata, the two-way player draft pick, will make his debut as a starter in the opening game of the second half of the season.
・ [Seibu] First-round draft pick Taiga Kojima has accepted a contract with the team. He declares war on his battery partner, first-round pick Okawa of Nippon-Ham, saying, “I want to crush him.”

AloJapan.com