Yakult Picks Speedster Fukuchi
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Fukuchi played with Hiroshima from 1997 until 2005, failing to get a regular outfield spot due to the presence of Koichi Ogata, Tomonori Maeda, and Tomoaki Kanemoto, as well as the emergence of Shigenobu Shima. He was traded to the Seibu Lions after the 2005 season for right-handed reliever Hayato Aoki.
With Seibu, he got more of a chance to play as a regular outfielder and show his ability to steal bases. He stole 25 bases in 2006 and 28 in 2007. He has very little power and an average bat. Takumi Kuriyama and Yasuyuki Kataoka are the future at the top of the order for the Lions, so Fukuchi was expendable enough to keep off the protected roster.
Fukuchi will probably end up batting lead off and covering a lot more room in left or right field than Alex Ramirez ever did. Norichika Aoki may end up being the regular #3 batter, since his power numbers were strong in 2007 and there really isn't anyone else Yakult has who can hit in that spot.