The talent pool for pitchers in this year's draft class was deep. What's more, he hurt his right shoulder during this year's spring season. So there were good reasons for NPB clubs to pass on Soka University right-hander Seigi Tanaka in Thursday's NPB draft.

But five teams put down the 22-year-old hurler's name, trying to acquire him as their blockbuster prize, because he's such a big prospect and it's worth the risk.

And at the moment that Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks skipper Kimiyasu Kudo won the lottery to earn negotiating rights with him, Tanaka flashed a smile, indicating his relief.