By Nakashima Kaito, ESPN-Japan.com

June 21, 2013: Tokyo, Japan – Never, perhaps, has a ballplayer’s nickname been as appropriate than the moniker of Eisuke “Big House” Koizumi, the catcher out of Tennoji High School who is widely considered the top position player in tonight’s League of the Rising Sun amateur draft.

Koizumi, only 18, tells ESPN-Japan that he plans to buy a really big house with his signing bonus money.  “It’s going to be a palace.  I already have checked out a few.  I can’t wait.”

Koizumi has the triple good fortune of being a.) in the first LRS draft class to require signing bonuses; b.) a solid offensive player in what’s generally viewed as a weak draft class; and c.) a catching prospect heading into a league in which native-born catchers with some power are exceedingly rare.  Add that up and you’ve got a high schooler who is about to be drafted very high – a certain first rounder, perhaps among the top four selections – and about to become very rich.

Sources indicate that Koizumi’s agent plans to ask for at least $1.7 million as a signing bonus, which equals about ¥1.4 billion at current exchange rates.  Only two or three other prospects, all starting pitchers, are likely to ask for as much or more.

“I’ll tell you one thing,” Koizumi told ESPN.  “I suddenly have a lot more friends than ever.”

In his three high school seasons, Koizumi batted .343 and drove in a total of 110 RBI.  Scouts question whether he has the defensive abilities to stay long term as a catcher.  “The only negative I see on him is that he has an average arm,” said one LRS GM who asked not to be named.  “I personally would chose a stronger arm behind the plate and sacrifice some offense for it.  But an average arm is not really a bad thing, especially when he carries that kind of bat.”

And soon, “Big House” will have the house to prove it.