Yomiuri Giants draft pick 3rd pick / [Ishida Juza] Hokusei Gakuen University High School

profile

name:Juza Ishida
position:pitcher
Pitching/batting:Right-handed pitcher/batter
Birthplace:Hokkaido
date of birth:July 21, 2006
Height/Weight:192cm / 87kg
Biography:Asahikawa Municipal Keimei Elementary School (Keimei Lions) - Asahikawa Municipal Midorigaoka Junior High School (Asahikawa Hokuryo Senior) - Hokusei Gakuen University Senior High School

Characteristics as a player

A large right-handed pitcher who has been highly praised by multiple NPB scouts as a "great prospect." Highly regarded for his fingertip sensitivity and the quality of his fastball, he is a pitcher who uses a fastball that can reach a maximum speed of 149 km/h from his tall stature, as well as breaking balls such as sliders, curves, changeballs, and SFFs. He also hit five home runs as a fielder in high school, and there are high hopes for him to become a two-way player. His name comes from "Juza," one of the strongest warriors in the manga "Fist of the North Star." This is the first time in three years that the Giants have designated a high school pitcher as a controlled player, and although he has not yet played in Koshien, there are high hopes for his high potential, which is said to be among the best among high school players.

Baseball career

His father, Takehito, played for the Phillies in the 1A division and in the US independent league for three seasons. Influenced by his father, Ishida started playing softball when he was in the first grade of elementary school, and played for Asahikawa Hokuryo Senior when he was in Midorigaoka Junior High School. In 2020, when he was in his second year of junior high school, he was selected for the U-15 Hokkaido selection team.

Illustration by vaguely

Career at Hokusei Gakuen University Senior High School

After entering Hokusei Gakuen University High School, Ishida made his first official appearance in the fall of 2022 when he was a freshman, and in the spring of 2023, he started in the second round against Bunkyo University High School in the regional tournament, pitching a complete game victory (6-2). In the summer preliminaries, the team lost 7-8 to Sapporo Minami High School and was eliminated in the first round, but Ishida, who played as the fifth center fielder in this game, hit two hits and made his presence felt in batting.

From the fall of 2023, Ishida will lead the team as the ace. Ishida started in three games and contributed to the team's first advancement to the All-Hokkaido Tournament in 14 years. In the regional representative deciding match against Sapporo Sosei High School, he also achieved his first shutout in a game that was won by a shutout in the seventh inning. In the first game of the All-Hokkaido tournament, they faced the powerful Komazawa University Tomakomai High School. Ishida continued pitching at a no-hitter pace until the sixth inning, but in the seventh inning he was hit by a barrage of hits and gave up three runs. They also lost the game 1-4 and were unable to advance to the top.

*The information in this article is current as of the time of publication (December 2024).