2018 Nippon Professional Baseball draft


The 2018 Nippon Professional Baseball Draft was held on 25 October at the Grand Prince Hotel Takanawa to assign amateur baseball players to the NPB. It was arranged with the special cooperation of Taisho Pharmaceutical Co. with official naming rights. The draft was officially called "The Professional Baseball Draft Meeting supported by Lipovitan D". 2018 marked the 6th consecutive year in which Taisho Pharmaceuticals had sponsored the event.

Summary

Only the first round picks were allowed to be contested with all picks from the second round onward being based on table placing in the 2018 NPB season in a waiver system. Waiver priority was based on inter-league results. As the Pacific League teams came out on top against Central League opposition, Pacific League teams were given preference. From the third round the order was reversed continuing in the same fashion until all picks were exhausted.

First Round Contested Picks

Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles

Hanshin Tigers

Chiba Lotte Marines

Chunichi Dragons

Orix Buffaloes

Yokohama DeNA Baystars

Nippon Ham Fighters

Yomiuri Giants

Fukuoka Softbank Hawks

Tokyo Yakult Swallows

Saitama Seibu Lions

Hiroshima Carp