NIPPON EXPRESS Holdings announced on October 27 that Hayato Fuji, a pitcher for the Nippon Express baseball team, was selected in the 5th round by the Chiba Lotte Marines at the professional baseball draft held in Tokyo on the 23rd.
<Pitcher Fuji>
Fujii is a 23-year-old pitcher who joined the team in 2024 from Heisei International University. Standing at 180 cm tall and weighing 86 kg, he is a powerful right-handed pitcher (right-handed thrower, right-handed batter) who racks up strikeouts with his fastball, which reaches a maximum speed of 155 km/h, and his breaking balls, mainly sliders.
In the 2025 Intercity Baseball Tournament South Kanto Final, he pitched a shutout victory, leading his team to the Intercity Baseball Tournament.
Upon being selected, pitcher Fuji said, "After being overlooked in the draft two years ago, I have dedicated myself to Nippon Express, who picked me up. I believe that my daily training, aimed at becoming a pitcher who can help the team win, has led to this good result. I will do my best to make an impact in the world of NPB (Nippon Professional Baseball) with the skills and perseverance I have cultivated in amateur baseball."
