The Saitama Seibu Lions have officially signed 22-year-old Indian pitcher Akshay More to a development contract, marking an unprecedented cross-sport transition from competitive judo to Nippon Professional Baseball. The right-hander, who has clocked speeds reaching up to 150 kilometers per hour (93 mph) on the radar gun, expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming move, stating he looks forward to meeting his new teammates and fans in Japan.
According to announcements made by the Pacific League club, More brings an unconventional athletic background to the farm system. While baseball participation remains in its developmental stages across South Asia, the 22-year-old previously competed at a high level in judo, capturing a national runner-up finish in India before transitioning his explosive athletic traits to the pitcher’s mound.
From the Judo Mat to the Pitcher’s Mound
The transition from combat sports to professional pitching is rare in global baseball, but scouts have increasingly monitored non-traditional athletic pipelines for raw velocity. More’s background as a national judo runner-up in India provided him with exceptional core strength, rotational power, and balance—traits that translated directly into arm speed. Working primarily as a right-handed thrower, More caught the attention of talent evaluators by reaching the 150 km/h threshold during workouts.
Under Nippon Professional Baseball regulations, development contracts (known as ikusei contracts) allow clubs to sign players outside of the traditional draft framework without occupying a spot on the 70-man roster. This gives foreign prospects and developmental projects time to adjust to the rigorous demands of Japanese professional baseball, language barriers, and professional training regimens without immediate pressure to perform at the top-tier level.
Next Steps for Seibu’s Newest Prospect
More is scheduled to travel to Japan to join the Saitama Seibu Lions organization for pre-season workouts and minor league camp development. The franchise operates its farm facilities in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, where the right-hander will work under the organization’s pitching development coaches to refine his secondary offerings, command, and overall pitching mechanics.
The Lions have a history of exploring international talent pipelines beyond the traditional baseball powerhouses of the United States, Latin America, and South Korea. By securing More on an ikusei deal, the club adds high-ceiling velocity to its developmental depth chart while providing the young athlete with the infrastructure needed to bridge the gap between amateur throwing programs and top-flight professional competition.
Fans and analysts tracking the franchise’s farm system updates can follow the team’s official channels for announcements regarding More’s arrival in Japan and his initial bullpen sessions at the team’s training facility. Share your thoughts on this unique signing in the comments below.
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