Developmental Player System

Summary

Regulations for Developmental Players

• Developmental players 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, the NPB's minor leagues. These minor league farm teams are considered a team's second squad. If a team as a large amount of developmental and minor league players, they may form a third squad and play in games against independent league teams, corporate amateur teams, or university teams. The Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks's third squad plays more than 100 games a year. While there is a difference in contract between a registered players under control and a developmental players, unlike the relationship between players Major League Baseball and Minor League Baseball in North America, all NPB are players on the same team regardless of which squad they are on, and use the same practice facility and player dormitory.
• A Developmental Player System contract is for a maximum of three years. After this contract expires, the player can become a free agent once and sign with the same team again for a one year extension. After the fourth season, and each subsequent season, the NPB will announce the player's free agent status. 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. For example, in 2019, Hiroki Hasegawa moved from the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks to the Tokyo Yakult Swallows. 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. 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.
• The minimum salary is ¥2.4 million and ¥3 million is paid as a preparation fee when drafted. 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.
• A developmental player's uniform number will be a three-digit number in the numbers of other players and staff being one- or two-digits.

• The deadline for re-signing a developmental player to a registered player under control contract is from the end of the season to July 31st during the following season. However, teams are not permitted to change a player's contract status from a registered under control to developmental during the season.
• Developmental players can only be owned by teams with at least 65 controlled players on their roster by July 31 each eason, 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. There is no limit to the number of developmental players owned and how many a team has depends on the team's policy. For example, the Yomiuri Giants and Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks often have more than 30 developmental players, enough to field a third-level squad; conversely, the Hanshin Tigers tend to have only a few players. The Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks selected 14 new developmental players in the 2022 draft to implement a four-team system starting in the 2023 season.

• 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.

• 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.

Outcome