The Yomiuri Giants acquired the rights to negotiate a contract with fastballer Takanobu Tsujiuchi in the amateur baseball draft for high school players on Monday.
Yomiuri picked Tsujiuchi via lottery after the Central League club and the Orix Buffaloes of the Pacific League selected the 17-year-old Osaka Toin left-hander in the first round of bids.
"I've been a big fan of the Giants since my childhood so I'm happy that my dream is about to become a reality," said Tsujiuchi, who had grabbed baseball scouts' attention with a 150-kph fastball.