2025 Draft News
He pitched as a technical left-hander in the Toto University League and Asia University.Junya HondaPitcher (4th year, Tokai University Sugao) announced that the Panasonic Baseball Club, which he had been scheduled to play, will be closed after the 2026 season. However, he took a positive view of becoming a draft pick from his first year, and vowed to give back in his last year as a prestigious player.
After four years of university crying due to injuries, I finally gained confidence.
Junya HondaThe pitcher was one year his junior when he was at Tokai University Sugou High School.Yasunari SuzukiAmong other pitchers, he pitched as the main left-handed pitcher with outstanding stability, and participated in Koshien in the spring and summer. When he went to Asia University, he was expected to pitch in four games in the spring of his first year, but he injured his left shoulder rotator cuff in the winter of his second year. From then on, he was forced to spend a long time in rehabilitation, pitching in only 11 games in his entire college career and not winning a league game.
Even so, I was able to complete my fourth year at university without getting injured. “Being able to play with my arms without worrying about injury gave me more confidence,” said Sponichi, and he was confident of his comeback after joining Panasonic, a prestigious professional baseball team.
Staying positive despite the shock of a prestigious school break, starting from the first year
However, Panasonic has announced that it will suspend its activities until 2026. “Before I decided to join the company, I had heard that I might be taking a leave of absence.I’m disappointed in the result, though,” (Sponichi) said, revealing that he had heard about it before making the offer.
Still, he said, “I might be drafted from my first year, or I might get a call from an adult team that didn’t listen to me.” He pitched his best in his last year with a prestigious baseball club with a long history, and said that he would repay the favor by turning pro, saying, “I was the one who was picked up by Panasonic.The best way to repay the favor for someone who came from there is to go pro.”
Players who join an adult baseball team after graduating from university are not allowed to be drafted until their second year, but if that team goes on hiatus, that condition is lifted and they become eligible for selection at that year’s draft meeting. In addition, each player will be looking for a transfer destination. Pitcher Honda hopes to achieve solid results over the next year and finish out his career in prestigious baseball. I also want to pave the way for myself to pitch professionally or for the next team.
Shunya Honda Profile
- full name: Shunya Honda
- Affiliation: Asia University (4th year) → Panasonic (official offer)
- Birthplace: Ishikawa Prefecture (Graduated from Tokai University Sugao High School)
- position: pitcher
- Throwing: Left-handed pitching
- Height/weight: 178cm、78kg
- Main features and achievements: A skilled left-hander who can use sharp fastballs and breaking balls. Participated in Koshien in high school. He struggled with injuries in college, but made a comeback in his senior year. My favorite person is Masa Yamamoto.
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Asia University’s technical left-hander, Shunya Honda, “repays the favor” to Panasonic after a “competitive year” – Sponichi Sponichi Annex Baseball
The career paths for fourth-year students from each school in the Toto University Baseball Division 1 League have been revealed. Asia University’s pitcher Shunya Honda will move on to Panasonic, which will be taking a hiatus after 26 years of playing. During my four years at university, I suffered from repeated injuries…
