Developmental player system (Nippon Professional Baseball)

The Developmental Player System (育成選手制度, Ikusei Senshu Seido) in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) is a parallel system to the regular, or "registered" (支配下選手, Shihai-ka Senshu) player system. It allows NPB teams to sign and develop players outside of the limitations and roster sizes imposed on registered players.

The primary purpose of the system is to provide opportunities for players who are considered raw or needing further development to gain experience and training within the NPB organization without counting against the team's 70-man registered player roster limit. Players signed under a developmental contract are known as "developmental players" (育成選手, Ikusei Senshu).

Key characteristics of the Developmental Player System include:

• Roster Flexibility: Developmental players do not count towards the 70-man registered player roster limit, allowing teams to hold a larger pool of talent. There is, however, a limit of 10 developmental players per team.

• Lower Salary: Developmental players typically receive significantly lower salaries than registered players, reflecting their status as developing prospects.

• Limited Game Participation: Developmental players are primarily assigned to the team's farm system (minor league) teams. They are generally not eligible to play in the NPB's top-level league games unless they are "promoted" to a registered player contract.

• Contract Conversion: Developmental players can be "promoted" to a registered player contract at any point during the season if the team believes they are ready for NPB-level competition and has space on the 70-man roster.

• Draft Implications: Players can be drafted as developmental players in the NPB Draft. Teams can also sign undrafted players to developmental contracts.

• Uniform Numbers: Developmental players typically wear three-digit uniform numbers, distinguishing them from registered players who wear one- or two-digit numbers.

The Developmental Player System is designed to provide a pathway for players who might otherwise be overlooked to develop their skills and potentially earn a spot on a team's active roster. It is a crucial component of talent development within NPB.