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Jorge Castillo
A number of Authors
Three years in the past, Japan toppled the US to win the World Baseball Classic due to Shohei Ohtani‘s two-way exploits, punctuated by his strikeout of Mike Trout to seal the victory. Ohtani was the star of the present, however he wasn’t the one star. A number of of his teammates, family names in Japan’s Nippon Skilled Baseball, used the stage to introduce themselves to American baseball followers whereas making main contributions to that championship run. And most of them have since made the soar to Main League Baseball.
Outfielder and designated hitter Masataka Yoshida went 9-for-22 with two residence runs and 13 RBIs weeks earlier than starting his first season with the Boston Red Sox. Third baseman Munetaka Murakami, who signed with the Chicago White Sox in December, delivered the walk-off double within the semifinals towards Mexico.
On the mound, Yoshinobu Yamamoto tossed 2⅔ scoreless innings in his one outing lower than a yr earlier than signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers and receiving the biggest free agent contract given to a pitcher. He delivered a Herculean postseason efficiency in L.A.’s second consecutive World Sequence run in October.
Roki Sasaki, a wunderkind on the 2023 WBC staff, can also be a Dodger. Shota Imanaga, who pitched in three video games and began one, made the Nationwide League All-Star staff as a 30-year-old rookie for the Chicago Cubs in 2024. Even left-handed reliever Yuki Matsui, who pitched only one inning within the 2023 WBC, signed a five-year contract with the San Diego Padres earlier than the 2024 season.
Although Japan’s NPB expertise on this WBC would not match the 2023 staff’s stage, a number of NPB stars may emerge within the knockout stage — and ultimately depart for MLB.
This is a have a look at these gamers and which present huge leaguers they evaluate to, beginning with these anticipated to grow to be MLB free brokers the earliest.
Subsequent offseason
RHP Hiromi Itoh
Age: 28
NPB staff: Nippon Ham Fighters
MLB comp: Sonny Gray
Itoh is predicted to grow to be the following Japanese star pitcher to make the soar to the majors, and golf equipment are making ready for him to be among the many free agent combine subsequent offseason. Final season, the 5-foot-9 right-hander received the Sawamura Award — Japan’s equal to the Cy Younger Award — by going 14-8 with a 2.52 ERA and main the league with 195 strikeouts and 196⅔ innings.
He throws seven pitches, however principally depends on a plus fastball that touches 96 mph, a sweeper and a splitter. Itoh piggybacked with Los Angeles Angels left-hander Yusei Kikuchi in Japan’s 8-6 win over Korea in pool play, permitting two runs on one hit (a house run) with six strikeouts and no walks over three innings.
An American League expertise evaluator stated he expects Itoh to be a “high-end” free agent with loads of suitors.
“Smallish however confirmed monitor file of sturdiness,” the expertise evaluator stated. “He ought to proceed to strike out MLB hitters whereas permitting only a few walks.”
3B/OF Teruaki Sato
Age: 27
NPB staff: Hanshin Tigers
MLB comp: Ryan O’Hearn
Much like Itoh, MLB groups are making ready for Sato to go away for MLB subsequent offseason, and he ought to generate loads of curiosity. Sato, who clubbed a house run off Blake Snell in an exhibition recreation towards the Dodgers final yr, was the most effective hitter in a particularly pitcher-friendly NPB in 2025. He belted 40 homers — eight greater than runner-up and former huge leaguer Franmil Reyes and 17 greater than the third-highest whole. He posted a .924 OPS — 63 factors increased than Reyes’ second-place output.
“He has big energy, and he has regularly improved on the plate the previous couple of years,” a Nationwide League scout stated. “Sato has spoken typically about coming. He’s intriguing.”
Sato began only one recreation in pool play in Tokyo — Japan’s 9-0 win over Czechia — in proper discipline. He entered the opposite three video games as a pinch hitter and has additionally performed third base. He is 2-for-6 with two doubles, a stroll and an RBI.
Future years
LHP Hiroya Miyagi
Age: 24
NPB staff: Orix Buffaloes
MLB comp: Framber Valdez
Miyagi is simply 5-7, however he has grow to be a premier pitcher in NPB who has confirmed able to dealing with a big workload. The left-hander posted a 2.39 ERA over 150⅓ innings final season. He has logged at the least 141⅔ innings in every of the previous 5 seasons with a 2.48 profession ERA. Miyagi has a fastball within the low 90s and would not miss many bats, as an alternative counting on his command and pitch combine to restrict harm.
“He’s somewhat man however actually competes,” the scout stated. “He pitches like he’s 6-3.”
RHP Hiroto Takahashi
Age: 23
NPB staff: Chunichi Dragons
MLB comp: Mitch Keller
Although Itoh received the Sawamura Award final season, Takahashi would possibly simply be the most effective NPB pitcher who hasn’t joined MLB but. Greater than Itoh and Miyagi however nonetheless listed at simply 6-0, the right-hander’s fastball sits within the mid-90s, nevertheless it’s straight and would not produce many whiffs. His splitter and cutter, nevertheless, miss bats at an elite charge for NPB.
Takahashi dominated an overwhelmed Czechia’s lineup to conclude pool play, giving up two hits in 4⅔ innings with 5 strikeouts. He is eligible to pitch once more within the semifinals if Japan advances that far.
“Takahashi has the most important ceiling, however we’re all ready for him to make that subsequent huge soar,” the scout stated.
LHP Chihiro Sumida
Age: 26
NPB staff: Seibu Lions
MLB comp: Danny Coulombe
One other left-hander effectively underneath 6 toes — he is listed at 5-9 — Sumida recorded a 2.65 ERA in 159⅔ innings final season. He got here out of the bullpen towards Australia and was dominant, yielding an unearned run in three innings with seven strikeouts to zero walks.
RHP Atsuki Taneichi
Age: 27
NPB staff: Chiba Lotte Marines
MLB comp: Cristian Javier
A starter for the Marines with a 2.64 ERA in 24 begins final season, Taneichi has been used as a reliever within the WBC. The 6-foot right-hander logged two scoreless innings with 5 strikeouts and no walks in pool play.
May keep in Japan
OF Shota Morishita
Age: 25
NPB staff: Hanshin Tigers
MLB comp: Matt Vierling
2B Shugo Maki
Age: 28
NPB staff: Yokohama DeNA BayStars
MLB comp: Zack Gelof
We’ll group Morishita and Maki as a result of they’re place gamers with unclear motivation to leap to MLB.
Morshita established himself as one of many elite hitters within the power-deprived NPB final season. His 23 residence runs had been tied for third whereas he was certainly one of simply 5 gamers with an OPS of at the least .800. He made his solely begin of the WBC in left discipline towards Czechia and is 1-for-6 with a stroll within the event.
Maki, Japan’s beginning second baseman, was a kind of 5 NPB hitters with at the least an .800 OPS final season (he completed at .800). He hit 16 residence runs regardless of being restricted to 93 video games after present process thumb surgical procedure in August.
“They each can hit and have some pop,” the scout stated. “That stated, they’re seemingly extra bench guys. Not a lot defensive worth.”
Prone to keep in Japan
OF Kensuke Kondoh
Age: 32
NPB staff: SoftBank Hawks
MLB comp: Masataka Yoshida
Kondoh, one of the crucial achieved hitters in NPB, may’ve jumped to MLB years in the past however stayed in Japan. And likelihood is he’ll end his profession in NPB as he enters his age-32 season after signing a seven-year contract with SoftBank in December 2022. Kondoh underwent again surgical procedure final April and was subsequently restricted to 77 video games in 2025. He produced when he was on the sphere, batting .301 with a .903 OPS and 10 residence runs.
Kondoh has batted second or third in his three WBC begins, all in proper discipline, and is 2-for-12 within the event after hitting .346 with a 1.115 OPS in Japan’s 2023 WBC championship run.
“He’s much like Yoshida,” the scout stated. “I actually really feel when he noticed Yoshida’s wrestle to face out, it gave him pause. There is not a lot protection, and there is not a lot energy. He can actually hit, however he took the NPB payday, and the transfer to the most effective franchise, as an alternative.”
