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Lucas Borja’s Top 15 NPB Pitchers For the 2025 Season

 Lucas Borja - World Baseball Network  |    Mar 28th, 2025 9:00am EDT

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Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball has long been a proving ground for elite pitchers, producing stars who dominate domestically and often make waves in Major League Baseball. As we head into the 2025 season, a new wave of aces is set to take center stage. From overpowering flamethrowers to precision artists carving up the strike zone, this ranking highlights the top 15 pitchers who will shape NPB’s landscape. Whether it’s Hiroto Takahashi’s electric arsenal, Hiroya Miyagi’s pinpoint command, or Liván Moinelo’s dazzling curveball, these arms are must-watch talent. Who will reign supreme as Japan’s best pitcher? Let’s dive in.

15. RHP Atsuki Taneichi, Chiba Lotte Marines

2024 Stats: 147 1/3 IP, 3.05 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 9.0 K/9, 2.3 BB/9, 81 xFIP-, 4.8 WAR

The new ace in town after Roki Sasaki’s early departure, Taneichi has been one of the Pacific League’s most potent arms for the past two seasons after battling injuries earlier in his career. Taneichi’s carrying tool is his fastball, which has above average NPB velocity at 92-94 mph, but he has managed to throw it over 50% of the time while allowing little damage (.236 AVG, two home runs against the fastball in 2024) and he also gets a high number of infield pop-ups (16.3 IFFB%) due to the pitch’s spin. The 26-year old commands his main secondary offerings well, dotting sliders low and away from righties and keeping his splitter below the zone. It is odd how a pitcher with this much stuff and more than enough command has not posted a sub-3.00 ERA full season in NPB’s dead ball environment. The numbers and the eye test tell me that should change in 2025.

14. LHP Chihiro Sumida, Saitama Seibu Lions

2024 Stats: 179 1/3 IP, 2.76 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 7.7 K/9, 1.8 BB/9, 82 xFIP-, 4.4 WAR

The top player in the 2021 NPB Draft, Sumida has been somewhat slept-on in his three-year career due to a poor win-loss record (19-30), but I’d argue it’s actually impressive to go 9-10 on a 49-win Lions roster — besides, wins are a flawed stat anyway. The 5-foot-9, 25-year old southpaw has thrived in spite of a mediocre fastball, which hovers around 90-92 mph. Sumida arguably possesses the best changeup in Japan, with batters hitting just .160 against it and whiffing on the pitch 40% of the time. The splitter and curveball are also premier offerings, and it feels like Sumida could stand to use his fastball less  — he currently throws it 39% of the time — and lean into his secondary pitches even more. He has the command to do it.

13. RHP Tatsuya Imai, Saitama Seibu Lions

2024 Stats: 173 1/3 IP, 2.34 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 9.7 K/9, 3.6 BB/9, 87 xFIP-, 4.5 WAR

Imai is unapologetically awesome. He is basically a two-pitch pitcher, especially to right-handed hitters, and does not care if he walks the bases loaded if he can strike out everyone else after that. He thrives in chaos in a Blake Snell kind of way, and that has made him elite. Imai’s heater is one of the hardest in NPB, averaging 95-97 mph with potential to reach 99, though I wish Seibu’s catchers started calling it more high and inside vs high and away. Imai’s slider rates out of this world, batters whiffed on it 42% of the time and it makes him unstoppable against righties. Unfortunately, Imai’s ceiling is capped by how poor his other secondaries are, cornering him against lefties, and the command roulette means he is always one bad pitch away from a bad outing.

12. LHP Takahisa Hayakawa, Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles

2024 Stats: 170 1/3 IP, 2.54 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 8.5 K/9, 1.8 BB/9, 81 xFIP-, 4.5 WAR

One of the only pitchers in NPB that managed to get hurt consistently by the longball, Hayakawa was coming off back-to-back disapointing seasons after being highly coveted in the 2020 NPB Draft. Hayakawa decided to spend his winter in Australia with the ABL’s Perth Heat, dominating to a tune of 46 strikeouts in 27 innings, allowing three earned runs. This trip down under remade Hayakawa into the pitcher his talent warrants, profiling as a finesse pitcher with a true six pitch mix. Similar to Sumida, the 26-year-old could be even better if he favors his non-fastball offerings even more, since the Hayakawa currently throws 89-91 mph. If he can replicate the success and volume of 2024, he could reach the Top-5 next year. Just have to see more.

11. RHP Shosei Togo, Yomiuri Giants

2024 Stats: 180 IP, 1.95 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, 7.8 K/9, 2.2 BB/9, 91 xFIP-, 4.0 WAR

Your first impression of Togo might have been when he got obliterated by Shohei Ohtani and the Dodgers, allowing three homers and five earned runs in the third inning of an exhibition But, the reality is Togo has pitched like a top five NPB pitcher over the last three seasons, becoming the Yomiuri Giants workhorse and leading NPB in innings through that span. Unlike Imai or Sumida, Togo doesn’t have a signature pitch, he is just pretty good in all facets of pitching. Fastball is around 91 mph with an over the top release that he couples well with his splitter. Slider has proved to get a ton of ground balls. If Togo is going to struggle, it’s probably because of the longball, as Togo has allowed double-digit homers in the past five seasons and his worst season came in 2021 when he allowed a Central League high 19 homers. The 24-year-old could be in trouble if the ball isn’t as dead or his high mileage catches up to him, but as it stands, Togo should be viewed as a reliable frontline starter.

10. LHP Ryuhei Sotani, Orix Buffaloes

2024 Stats: 119 IP, 2.34 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 8.8 K/9, 2.0 BB/9, 77 xFIP-, 3.6 WAR

The biggest breakout pick on this list, Ryuhei Sotani has all the makings of a budding star on the mound. Sotani has a compact delivery with little to no extension. The fastball currently sits at 91-93 mph, and the rest of his secondaries (splitter, slider, cutter) are already plus pitches. The 24-year-old has already figured out lefties, becoming an extreme groundball pitcher (63.3%). It’s a completely different dynamic vs righties where Sotani particularly struggles to get grounders with his fastball (20.5 GB%) and figuring out righties should be the biggest priority for 2025. Sotani should be the number 3 starter for a gaudy Buffaloes rotation in 2025.

9. LHP Foster Griffin, Yomiuri Giants

2024 Stats: 116 2/3 IP, 3.01 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 9.7 K/9, 1.8 BB/9, 72 xFIP-, 3.6 WAR

A former first-round pick by the Kansas City Royals in 2014, Griffin has found his groove in Tokyo after 8 tough years in the minors. The 29-year-old from Orlando is poised to earn a big payday in 2026, whether that’s with the Giants or a MLB team. Griffin led the league in CSW% (Called Strikes plus Whiffs) and can get lefties and righties out. The fastball isn’t overpowering at around 91 mph but he mixes it well and has a 134 Stuff+ (per @bouno05). Griffin’s ERA has masked how good he’s been, and if he can make 25 or more starts in 2025 (he made 20 starts each of the past two years) I expect him to be the Giants best pitcher as they try to repeat their 1st place regular season finish.

8. RHP Shoki Murakami, Hanshin Tigers

2024 Stats: 153 2/3 IP, 2.58 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 7.6 K/9, 1.9 BB/9, 89 xFIP-, 3.8 WAR

Last year, Shoki Murakami was fresh off winning CL Rookie of the Year and MVP honours. He was the best pitcher on a dominant Tigers squad that won their first title since 1985. The 26-year-old experienced a sophomore slump of sorts, even being demoted to the bullpen at the end of the year as the Tigers were making their playoff push. If this is Murakami’s floor, and the MVP season is his ceiling, sign me up because the median outcome here is still a great pitcher. Murakami is a command over stuff guy, but his stuff is still is well above average. The fastball is 90-92 mph and he tends to live on the outer part of the zone with it. I see Murakami bouncing back (keep in mind his 2024 was still pretty good!) and he will form a formidable duo with my No. 6 starting pitcher atop the Tigers rotation.

7. LHP Katsuki Azuma, Yokohama DeNa Baystars

2024 Stats: 183 IP, 2.16 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 6.9 K/9, 1.3 BB/9, 92 xFIP-, 3.9 WAR

Though the Quality Start (QS) statistic (when a pitcher pitches at least six innings with three runs or less allowed) is a rather commonplace achievement in this dead-ball era, it is still noteworthy that Baystars ace Katsuki Azuma managed to post 32 quality starts in a row, proving his newfound consistency and durability over the past two seasons.

Azuma is a former Rookie of The Year recipient that endured three injury-riddled years until he emerged once again atop the Baystars rotation alongside Shota Imanaga and Trevor Bauer. You could make a strong case that it was Azuma who was the ace on that staff, despite having pedestrian raw stuff. Azuma is the king of the soft-tossing southpaws that every NPB team seems to have on their staff. The fastball sits in the high 80s and he wisely throws it below 40% of the time, mixing in a changeup, slider and cutter on all counts. The 29-year-old excels at limiting hard contact and painting the corners. He will be taking the ball on Opening Day for the defending champions.

6. RHP Hiroto Saiki, Hanshin Tigers

2024 Stats: 167 2/3 IP, 1.83 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 7.4 K/9, 2.0 BB/9, 91 xFIP-, 5.1 WAR

Five innings pitched, seven strikeouts, one hit allowed, and one walk. That was the final line for Tigers starter Hiroto Saiki against the Los Angeles Dodgers, probably the best team in the world. Three straight seasons with a sub-1.90 ERA. The lowest Hard Hit% among qualified pitchers, and arguably the best fastball in NPB, featuring elite spin, ride and extension. What once looked like a decent pitcher with a lot of luck mixed in, actually was one of Japan’s best arms and I am done doubting him. The reason he is not even higher on this list is due to a limited arsenal besides the fastball and a moderate lack of strikeouts. I expect Saiki to once again be an elite run preventor and he could win the Eiji Sawamura Award, the Japanese equivalent of the Cy Young Award, if the defense behind him improves under new manager Kyuji Fujikawa.

5. RHP Hiromi Itoh, Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters

2024 Stats: 176 1/3 IP, 2.65 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 8.2 K/9, 2.0 BB/9, 84 xFIP-, 4.7 WAR

Itoh is the new mad scientist of pitching. Like former Fighter Yu Darvish, Itoh’s arsenal is in the double-digits, and batters cannot sit on anything because he is comfortable throwing all his offerings no matter the count. Itoh has been a high-volume stud in his four years in Hokkaido, but the 27-year-old has managed to gain several ticks in velocity since he got drafted and now can sometimes reach the mid 90s (he is sits 91-93 mph at the moment).

Itoh’s numbers, especially his ERA, haven’t matched his talent level partly due to Itoh’s struggles going through lineups a third and fourth time, as manager Tsuyoshi Shinjo expects his ace to go the distance every time he takes the ball. Itoh’s final month last season squashed these concerns for me, as the right-hander pitched five straight outings of seven or more innings, including three straight complete games. If the Fighters win the Pacific League pennant, It’s because Itoh pitched like a Sawamura Award and MVP contender.

4. RHP Shunpeita Yamashita, Orix Buffaloes

2024 Stats: 64 IP, 3.38 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 11.7 K/9, 4.4 BB/9, 85 xFIP-, 1.5 WAR

Talentwise, Yamashita is No. 1. There isn’t a starter in Japan that can throw as hard as he does, plus his curveball acts like a hammer. His physical frame and maturity reminds me of Shohei Ohtani. But Yamashita’s 2024 season had a lot of ups and downs (mostly downs). The control wasn’t there, batters waited on mistakes and crushed them, and he has had back problems flare up. The 22-year-old even got sent down to the minors before returning at the end of August. In his last six starts, Yamashita looked like the overpowering stud we have been waiting for, posting a 1.58 ERA in 40 innings with 58 strikeouts and 12 walks. His health concerns me enough to not put him inside the top-3 for now, but if Yamashita is 100% and around the strike zone enough, he has a solid case to be the best pitcher in Japan.

Before we dive into the Top-3, here are some honourable mentions – LHP Haruto Inoue, RHP Trevor Bauer, RHP Andre Jackson, LHP Anthony Kay, LHP Natsuki Takeuchi (Injured), RHP Yoshimura, RHP Kohei Arihara, RHP Jeremy Beasley.

3. LHP Liván Moinelo, Fukuoka Softbank Hawks

2024 Stats: 163 IP, 1.88 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 8.6 K/9, 2.6 BB/9, 85 xFIP-, 3.8 WAR

The Cuban 29-year-old had spent his last seven seasons in Fukuoka as a otherwordly late-inning reliever. But the Hawks, still reeling from the recent loss of their former ace Kodai Senga, converted Moinelo to a starter just before last year’s spring training. Moinelo had never been a starter, not even when he was a talented teenager in the Cuban National Series but he pitched like an ace from day one.

Moinelo’s 4-pitch mix is great across the board, but his curveball particularly is outrageous. It might be the best pitch in NPB, as batters have hit .115 with just one homer against it over the course of Moinelo’s entire career, which has seen him throw 1094 curveballs. It is clear Moinelo managed his effort across his outings to go deep into games, as he went from sitting 95 mph out of the bullpen to 92.8 as a starter. With a full offseason of preparation, Moinelo has the chance to regain his stuff from his reliever days but with a starters workload. He gave us a preview of what’s to come this preseason, throwing 6 perfect innings against the Dragons. He’s so good.

2. LHP Hiroya Miyagi, Orix Buffaloes

2024 Stats: 141 2/3 IP, 1.91 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 8.8 K/9, 1.4 BB/9, 70 xFIP-, 4.7 WAR

A wizard with the ball in his left hand, Miyagi is by far the most polished arm in NPB. Standing at 5-foot-7 and 182 pounds, the 23-year-old has kept making velocity gains to  the point where we can’t call him just a finesse pitcher, he is a finesse pitcher with one of the best fastballs in Japan. Miyagi’s heater now sits between 91-93 mph, but he sat at 89-90 mph when he was selected to play for Samurai Japan in the 2023 World Baseball Classic. Miyagi’s secondary offers, a forkball, changeup, and an eephus curve, are so good that batters have only hit two balls over the fence against them, ever. What I want to see for Miyagi in 2025 is for him to handle a full workload and get over 170 innings pitched for the first time in his career, a mark that would put him in pole position to win his first Sawamura Award.

1. RHP Hiroto Takahashi, Chunichi Dragons

2024 Stats: 143 2/3 IP, 1.38 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 8.1 K/9, 2.1 BB/9, 79 xFIP-, 5.0 WAR

Though the consensus might be leaning towards Miyagi being at the top, I prefer Takahashi ever so slightly. It’s unbelievable that former Dragons manager Kazuyoshi Tatsunami relegated one of the best pitchers in the world to the farm team, causing Takahashi to miss four starts with the Dragons in April. Though it may have cost him the Sawamura Award, which was not awarded to any pitcher in 2024, Takahashi proved the immense talent we once saw strikeout Mike Trout and Paul Goldschmidt in the WBC final when he was only 20 years old.

While attempting to emulate Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s every step, Takahashi now sits 95-97 MPH and can touch 98. His splitter is by far his best offspeed offering, falling off the table as it gets to the plate and leaving batters swinging at pitches in the dirt because they thought they had a fastball down the pipe. While Takahashi’s arsenal is not as polished as Miyagi’s, I believe his stuff continues to evolve in his age-22 season and he will follow Roki Sasaki’s footsteps as Japan’s next pitching phenom.