Developmental player system (Nippon Professional Baseball) explained

The is a system that allows players to be held for the purpose of training players separately from the 70 registered players under control of each team created in the fall of at Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).^[1]

Summary

This system was established in 2005 to create an environment in which amateur players can newly play in the situation where company-owned amateur baseball teams were being abolished one after another.^[2] A is a player who aims to improve baseball skill training and manner training in order to aim for registered players under control, that is eligible to participate in NPB's first league official game (Central League, Pacific League, Interleague play (NPB)). (Regulations for NPB Developmental players, Article 2)^[3]

A developmental players include players drafted as rookies (e.g. Yusuke Kosai and Michitaka Nishiyama, drafted developmental player who were first signed as a registered player under control in .), foreign players signed as developmental players (e.g., Raidel Martínez, Liván Moinelo.), players drafted as registered players under control but re-signed with a team as developmental players due to their abilities (e.g., Kenta Kurose - Re-signed as a registered player under control.), players who became free agents with their former team and signed with another team (e.g., Masaru Nakamura, Kouya Fujii - Re-signed as a registered player under control.), and players who were removed from the registration of players under control and re-signed as a developmental player due to treat injuries (e.g., Takuya Kuwahara, Hiroya Shimamoto.). There is an argument that eliminating players who cannot play due to injury from the registration of players under control and re-signing them as developmental players will protect their careers. On the other hand, the use of the developmental players system instead of the Major League Baseball (MLB) Injured list system is criticized as contrary to the original principle of this system, which is to open the door to amateur players and develop them.^[4] The oldest player to become a developmental player is Soichi Fujita, who signed in at the age of 39. The longest period as a developmental player was 's eight seasons (2011-) as of the season.

Regulations for Developmental Player

Player Rules

• Basically, they are not allowed to participate in official NPB games. However, up to five players per team per game are allowed to play in the Eastern League and Western League for developmental players.^[1] Other players play in practice games for the second squad. And make up the third squad, like the Yomiuri Giants and the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, and play in games against independent league teams such as the Shikoku Island League Plus and Baseball Challenge League, corporate amateur teams, and university teams.^{[5] [6]} The Hawks's third squad play more than 100 games a year.^[7] But there is a difference in contract between a registered players under control and a developmental players, but unlike the relationship between major leaguers and minor leaguers in Major League Baseball, they are players on the same team. They use the same practice facility and player dormitory.^[8]
• The contract is for a maximum of three years, but after the fourth year, the player can become a free agent once and sign with the same team again.^[1] After the fourth season, the contract will be for one year, and after each season, the NPB will announce the free agent status, after which the player can re-sign.^[9] This measure is intended to increase the player's chances of signing a registration of players under control contract, and during the free agent period, he can negotiate with other teams. In 2019, Hiroki Hasegawa moved from the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks to the Tokyo Yakult Swallows.^[10] A one-year contract is also possible for a registered players under control to re-sign as a developmental player after a free agent announcement has been made. (Regulations for NPB Developmental players, Article 10)^[3] Players who have not been under contract for three seasons will be placed on the roster of pending developmental players, and other teams will not be able to negotiate with them.^[11]
• The minimum salary is 2.4 million yen and 3 million yen is paid as a preparation fee when drafted.^[1] However, since there is no cap on annual salary, some teams sign players at higher salaries, and players who are re-signed as developmental players from a registered players under control often maintain the salary level of a registered players under control.^{[12] [13]} The number on the back of the uniform of the developmental players will be a three-digit number (e.g. 110, or 001).

Regulations for teams that own developmental players

• The deadline for re-signing a developmental player as a registered players under control is from the end of the season to July 31st during the following season, as stated above.However, it is not permitted to change from a registered players under control to a developmental contract during the season.^[1]
• A developmental players can only be owned by teams with at least 65 controlled players as of July 31, and teams with fewer than 65 controlled players cannot own them. However, if a team reports to the Executive Committee that it has re-signed a developmental player as a controlled player or acquired a new controlled player to bring the number of controlled players to 65 or more, and if this is approved, the team may retain the developmental player. (Regulations for NPB Developmental players, Article 3)^[3] There is no limit to the number of developmental players owned.^[14] Some teams, such as the Yomiuri Giants and Fukuoka Softbank Hawks, have more than 30 players and use a 3-team system, while others, such as the Hanshin Tigers, have only a few players, depending on the team's policy.^{[15] [16] [17]} The Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks have selected 14 new developmental players in the 2022 draft to implement a four-team system from the 2023 season.^[18]

Developmental Players Draft Meeting

• If the total number of players selected at the end of the Rookie Player Selection Conference has not reached 120, a Developmental Players Selection Meeting will be held with the participation of the teams that wish to participate.^[19]

Developmental players trade

• Article 11 of the Nippon Professional Baseball Developed Player Regulations states that a trade of a developmental player held by July 31 is allowed, but as of the 2022 season, there are no examples of such a trade.^[3]

Outcome

The developmental player system, which began in the 2005 season, has been successful in producing major players for each team. (e.g. Yoshiki Sunada, Yuji Nishino) The Yomiuri Giants, who have been working on this system since early on, have signed more than 50 developmental players as their registered players under control as of the 2022 season. The Fukuoka Softbank Hawks have also signed 40 developmental players as their registered players under control, and have produced players like Kodai Senga and Takuya Kai who have won league titles and awards and represented Japanese baseball on the national baseball team.^[20] The Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, which had been reluctant to acquire developmental players, drafted a player as a developmental player for the first time in the 2018 draft.^[21] In the 2022 draft, 51 players will be selected as developmental players, the largest number in history, and the acquisition of developmental players is a growing trend.^[22]

Holders of league titles and awards from developmental players

Player Name	Team	enrollment	League Titles and Awards
Shuta Ishikawa	Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks	2013 Draft.	1× Pacific League winning percentage leader (2020) 1× Pacific League the most wins Champion (2020) Pitched a no-hitter on August 18, 2023
Takuya Kai	Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks	2010 Draft.		6× Pacific League Golden Glove Award (2017–2022) 3× Pacific League Best Nine Award (2017, 2020. 2022)
Raidel Martínez	Chunichi Dragons	Signed in 2017.	1× Central League Saves leader (2022)
Tetsuya Matsumoto	Yomiuri Giants	2006 Draft.	1× Central League Rookie of the Year (2009)
Liván Moinelo	Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks	Signed in 2017.	1× Pacific League Best Relief Pitcher Award (2020) 1× Pacific League Holds leader (2020)
Yoshifumi Okada	Chiba Lotte Marines	2008 Draft.	2× Pacific League Golden Glove Award (2011, 2012)
Yariel Rodríguez	Chunichi Dragons	Signed in 2020.	1× Central League Best Relief Pitcher Award (2022) 1× Central League Holds leader (2022)
Kodai Senga	Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks	2010 Draft.	2× Pacific League strikeout leader (2019, 2020) 1× Pacific League ERA leader (2020) 1× Pacific League winning percentage leader (2017) 1× Pacific League the most wins champion (2020) 2× Pacific League Best Nine Award (2019, 2020) 2× Pacific League Golden Glove Award (2019, 2020) Pitched a no-hitter on September 6, 2019
Ukyo Shuto	Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks	2017 Draft.	1×Pacific League Stolen bases Leader (2020)
Tetsuya Yamaguchi	Yomiuri Giants	2005 Draft.	1× Central League Rookie of the Year (2009) 3× Central League Best Relief Pitcher Award (2009, 2012-2013)

Current developmental player rosters

Central League

Position	Players	source
			[23]
			[24]
			[25]
			[26]
			[27]
			[28]

Pacific League

Position	Players	source
			[29]
			[30]
			[31]
			[32]
			[33]
			[34]

List of developmental players for the Nippon Professional Baseball

• List of developmental players for the Nippon Professional Baseball (wikipedia Japanese version.)

See also

• Nippon Professional Baseball
• List of current Nippon Professional Baseball team rosters
• Registration of players under control

External links

• Nippon Professional Baseball Agreement・Unified contract documents - Japan Professional Baseball Players Association Official site
• Nippon Professional Baseball public notice 2023 - NPB.jp
• Teams index - NPB.jp

Notes and References

1. Web site: full-count.jp baseball terminology 育成選手制度【意外と知らない野球用語】. ja-JP. full-count.jp. February 8, 2021. November 8, 2022.
2. Web site: Sports Navi baseball times 是か非か!? プロ野球「育成選手制度」＝インフォグラフィックで検証. ja-JP. Yahoo! Japan. December 21, 2015. November 2, 2022.
3. Web site: Regulations for Nippon Professional Baseball Developmental players. ja-JP. Japan Professional Baseball Players Association Official site. November 8, 2022.
4. Web site: Weekly baseball HOT TOPIC FAのプロテクト対策? 故障者の育成契約に「疑問の声」が. ja-JP. Weekly baseball ONLINE. November 1, 2022. November 8, 2022.
5. Web site: Yomiuri Giants game report 2022年6月4日　新潟アルビレックス－読売ジャイアンツ. ja-JP. Yomiuri Giants Official site. June 4, 2022. November 8, 2022.
6. Web site: Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks game report 2022/8/10(水) 3軍試合結果 vs亜細亜大学. ja-JP. Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks Official site. August 10, 2022. November 8, 2022.
7. Web site: Sports Hochi baseball news 【ソフトバンク】来季から球界初の4軍制導入　3軍戦に出場できない育成選手の実戦機会確保に期待. ja-JP. Sports Hochi. October 11, 2022. November 8, 2022.
8. Web site: Web Sportiva news こりゃ強いわけだよ。新設されたホークス「二軍施設」がスゴすぎる. ja-JP. Shueisha. July 9, 2016. November 8, 2022.
9. Web site: Nippon Professional Baseball public notice 公示 自由契約選手(育成選手). ja-JP. NPB.jp. October 31, 2022. November 10, 2022.
10. Web site: Nikkan Sports baseball news ソフトバンク育成長谷川宙輝がヤクルトへ支配下移籍. ja-JP. Nikkan Sports. November 22, 2019. November 8, 2022.
11. Web site: Nippon Professional Baseball public notice 公示 2023年度育成選手保留者名簿. ja-JP. NPB.jp. October 31, 2022. November 10, 2022.
12. Web site: Nishinippon Sports baseball news ソフトバンク、育成13位の新潟医療福祉大・佐藤琢磨投手と入団合意. ja-JP. Nishinippon Shimbun. November 9, 2021. November 10, 2022.
13. Web site: Sports Hochi baseball news 【中日】来季から育成契約の垣越建伸が推定525万円でサイン　中学チームメートの根尾昂の活躍に刺激. ja-JP. Sports Hochi. November 10, 2022. November 10, 2022.
14. Web site: Yomiuri Shimbun Baseballnews ホークス 四軍構想...早ければ2023年の創設目指す. ja-JP. Yomiuri Shimbun. January 5, 2022. November 7, 2022.
15. Web site: Yomiuri Giants 2022 Roster. ja-JP. NPB.jp. November 8, 2022.
16. Web site: Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks 2022 Roster. ja-JP. NPB.jp. November 8, 2022.
17. Web site: Hanshin Tigers 2022 Roster. ja-JP. NPB.jp. November 8, 2022.
18. Web site: Nikkan Sports baseball news 【ドラフト】育成ドラフトで最多更新の57人指名 4軍設立見据えるソフトバンクが最多14人. ja-JP. Nikkan Sports. October 20, 2022. November 4, 2022.
19. Web site: Nippon Professional Baseball 2022年 プロ野球ドラフト会議 supported by リポビタンD 選択手順. ja-JP. NPB.jp. November 9, 2022.
20. Web site: full-count.jp baseball terminology 育成出身が多数活躍、ホークスはなぜ選手が育つのか? 選手の言葉から検証. ja-JP. full-count.jp. August 15, 2017. November 8, 2022.
21. Web site: Nikkan Sports baseball news 日本ハム初の育成指名　吉村GM「環境変化が理由」. ja-JP. Nikkan Sports. October 26, 2018. November 10, 2022.
22. Web site: Nikkan Sports baseball news 【ドラフト】年々増加する育成選手　昨年は史上最多51人、ソフトバンクは14人指名. ja-JP. Nikkan Sports. October 20, 2022. November 10, 2022.
23. Web site: Nippon Professional Baseball 2024年度 育成選手登録 中日ドラゴンズ 育成選手一覧. ja-JP. NPB.jp. October 9, 2024. October 21, 2024.
24. Web site: Nippon Professional Baseball 2024年度 育成選手登録 阪神タイガース 育成選手一覧. ja-JP. NPB.jp. October 9, 2024. October 4, 2024.
25. Web site: Nippon Professional Baseball 2024年度 育成選手登録 広島東洋カープ 育成選手一覧. ja-JP. NPB.jp. October 9, 2024. October 21, 2024.
26. Web site: Nippon Professional Baseball 2024年度 育成選手登録 東京ヤクルトスワローズ 育成選手一覧. ja-JP. NPB.jp. October 9, 2024. October 21, 2024.
27. Web site: Nippon Professional Baseball 2024年度 育成選手登録 横浜DeNAベイスターズ 育成選手一覧. ja-JP. NPB.jp. October 9, 2024. October 21, 2024.
28. Web site: Nippon Professional Baseball 2024年度 育成選手登録 読売ジャイアンツ 育成選手一覧. ja-JP. NPB.jp. October 9, 2024. October 21, 2024.
29. Web site: Nippon Professional Baseball 2024年度 育成選手登録 千葉ロッテマリーンズ 育成選手一覧. ja-JP. NPB.jp. October 9, 2024. October 21, 2024.
30. Web site: Nippon Professional Baseball 2024年度 育成選手登録 福岡ソフトバンクホークス 育成選手一覧. ja-JP. NPB.jp. October 9, 2024. October 21, 2024.
31. Web site: Nippon Professional Baseball 2024年度 育成選手登録 北海道日本ハムファイターズ 育成選手一覧. ja-JP. NPB.jp. October 9, 2024. October 21, 2024.
32. Web site: Nippon Professional Baseball 2024年度 育成選手登録 オリックス・バファローズ 育成選手一覧. ja-JP. NPB.jp. October 9, 2024. October 21, 2024.
33. Web site: Nippon Professional Baseball 2024年度 育成選手登録 埼玉西武ライオンズ 育成選手一覧. ja-JP. NPB.jp. October 9, 2024. October 21, 2024.
34. Web site: Nippon Professional Baseball 2024年度 育成選手登録 東北楽天ゴールデンイーグルス 育成選手一覧. ja-JP. NPB.jp. October 9, 2024. October 21, 2024.