Can Livan Moinelo and SoftBank Do it Again? A Nippon Professional Baseball 2026 Season Preview

Opening Day of the 2026 Nippon Professional Baseball season is this Friday, March 27, arriving in the shadow of Samurai Japan’s disappointing World Baseball Classic exit against eventual champions Venezuela.

Twenty-one players on Japan’s WBC roster were from NPB, and fans will be watching closely to see which ones start building a case for the 2030 team and which ones might be on their way to Major League Baseball sooner rather than later.

Questions also remain about NPB’s “dead ball era,” which has lingered since 2022. Are we destined for another year of low-scoring games, or could the fences moving in at Vantelin Dome Nagoya and Rakuten Mobile Park Miyagi, hitters making adjustments, or even a livelier ball finally shift the offensive environment?

For those new to Japanese baseball, the 12 teams are split into the Pacific and Central Leagues, playing 143 regular season games, including 18 interleague matchups. Games are limited to 12 innings and can end in a tie. The top three teams from each league advance to the postseason.

The regular season pennant winner gets a significant edge in the playoffs: a first-round bye, home-field advantage in every game, and an automatic one-game lead in the league championship series. In other words, the regular season really, really matters. The winners of each league’s playoff bracket then meet in a traditional best-of-seven Japan Series.

Who has what it takes to grab the crown this season?

Pacific League

Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks (2025: 87-52-4, Won Japan Series vs. Hanshin)

The defending Japan Series champions are looking to spark another dynasty. SoftBank captured six titles in seven years from 2014 to 2020, then went four seasons without winning one before breaking through again in 2025.

Under owner Masayoshi Son — the richest man in Japan — SoftBank has built a baseball empire comparable to the Los Angeles Dodgers, boasting by far the biggest budget in NPB, the deepest farm system, and top-tier resources and facilities. Last year, they led NPB with a +162 run differential, dominating in just about every facet of the game. There is little reason to expect that to change

The Hawks have plenty of depth in the pitching department, though they did lose workhorse Kohei Arihara. Livan Moinelo continues to anchor the rotation after becoming the first Cuban-born MVP in NPB history, posting a 1.46 ERA over 167 innings. Naoyuki Uwasawa, Tomohisa Ohzeki, and Haru Matsumoto slot in right behind him, while Carter Stewart Jr. is returning from an abdominal injury, and newly signed Taiwanese standout Jo-Hsi Hsu brings major hype.

The bullpen was also one of the best in NPB last year, featuring a three-headed dragon in Kazuki Sugiyama, Yuki Matsumoto, and Kouya Fujii. However, Fujii is set to miss the entire 2026 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery.

The lineup is just as loaded, featuring WBC representatives like Kensuke Kondoh, Ukyo Shuto, and Taisei Makihara, alongside franchise cornerstone and future Hall of Famer Yuki Yanagita, former home run king Hotaka Yamakawa, premier third baseman Ryoya Kurihara, and reigning on-base champion Tatsuru Yanagimachi, among others.

Expectation: Pennant Contenders

Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters (2025: 83-57-3, Lost to SoftBank in Playoffs)

Nippon-Ham came agonizingly close to pulling off a reverse sweep of the Hawks in the championship series last season and enters 2026 hungry for revenge. In his four years as manager, the eccentric Tsuyoshi Shinjo has helped transform the Fighters from a perennial bottom-feeder into one of the most exciting teams in the sport.

Offensively, their young core of Chusei Mannami, Shun Mizutani, and Kotaro Kiyomiya have emerged as faces of the franchise, while utilityman Yuya Gunji broke out as the team’s WAR leader last year. Throw in Franmil Reyes, the reigning PL home run king, and the lineup has plenty of firepower.

But their biggest asset is their starting pitching. Spearheaded by reigning Sawamura Award winner Hiromi Itoh and fellow national team representative Koki Kitayama, the Fighters own one of the best pitching pipelines in NPB. The return of Arihara on a mega-deal further strengthens an incredibly deep group that includes Rookie of the Year finalist Kota Tatsu, youngster Ren Fukushima, former CPBL MVP Ruei-Yang Gu Lin, and veteran southpaws Sachiya Yamasaki and Takayuki Katoh.

The late innings are a potential vulnerability, but some combination of flamethrower Yukiya Saito, Seigi Tanaka, and Taisei Yanagawa should be capable of locking down leads. New import Sauryn Lao and first-round pick Jay Ohkawa could also factor into that mix.

Expectation: Pennant Contenders

ORIX Buffaloes (2025: 74-66-3, Lost to Nipponham in Playoffs)

Orix is no longer the powerhouse that won three straight pennants and a Japan Series title in 2022 behind Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Masataka Yoshida. Still, they fielded one of the league’s best lineups last season, with nine hitters posting an OPS+ above league-average while logging at least 100 plate appearances.

Their core position players like Ryoma Nishikawa, Yutaro Sugimoto, Kotaro Kurebayashi, and Kenya Wakatsuki provide a solid foundation, and they could get even better if former MVP Tomoya Mori bounces back to his usual standards and new import Bob Seymour makes the right adjustments.

You can never count out their starting pitching, either. Ace Hiroya Miyagi headlines a rotation that includes rising star Ryuhei Sotani, dependable innings-eater Allen Kuri, and Anderson Espinoza in his third year in Japan. They also have the biggest X-factor of all in Shunpeita Yamashita, who has the talent to be the best pitcher in the country when healthy, but continues to battle nagging injuries.

The bullpen has a few question marks, but the Buffaloes can certainly count on flamethrower Andres Machado for the ninth inning, coming off a strong showing for Team Venezuela during their WBC title run.

Expectation: Playoff Contenders

Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles (2025: 67-74-2, Missed Playoffs)

Rakuten has finished in fourth place in five of the past six years. They’re the definition of a middle-of-the-pack team. Still, if things break their way, the Eagles could thrust themselves into the postseason.

They led NPB in stolen bases last year behind speedsters like Daisuke Nakashima, Ryosuke Tatsumi, and Hiroto Kobukata. They finished last in home runs, but addressed it by bringing back Luke Voit, who clubbed 13 homers in just 67 games and was easily their best batter last season. They also signed 6-foot-8 giant Carson McCusker and will be hoping for steps forward from younger talents like Rui Muneyama, Fumiya Kurokawa, and YG Yasuda.

On the pitching side, they ranked at the very bottom in key metrics like strikeout rate and xFIP, but are aiming to course correct. The signings of Kenta Maeda, Jose Ureña, and Roansy Contreras, along with first-round pick Sota Fujiwara and the decision to stretch out top reliever Naoto Nishiguchi, signal a clear effort to reshape and bolster the staff. Kosei Shoji and Takahisa Hayakawa will have to consistently throw quality innings at the top of the rotation, but the pieces are in place for them to be more competitive.

Expectation: Playoff Contenders

Saitama Seibu Lions (2025: 63-77-3, Missed Playoffs)

When Seibu posted both Tatsuya Imai and Kona Takahashi to MLB, it felt like they were ready to punt on the season. But Takahashi ultimately returned to Saitama, and the club quickly reinvested Imai’s posting fee into a litany of free agent hitters, including Masayuki Kuwahara, Kazunari Ishii, Alexander Canario, and An Ko Lin, expediting their rebuild.

Those shrewd pickups should ease the burden on established contributors like Tyler Nevin, Seiya Watanabe, and Manaya Nishikawa, who carried much of the offense last year. Fielding Bible Defensive Player of the Year, Natsuo Takizawa, will also play a big role with his glove and baserunning.

Without Imai, the rotation takes a hit, but southpaw Chihiro Sumida and closer-turned-starter Kaima Taira form a solid one-two punch at the top. Plus, former Rookie of the Year Natsuki Takeuchi is a strong bounce-back candidate, and they still have Takahashi and Yutaro Watanabe. Prospects like Shinya Sugai, Hibiki Shinohara, and Shinnosuke Hada could also break out if afforded the chance.

Expectation: Not a Playoff Team

Chiba Lotte Marines (2025: 57-79-3, Missed Playoffs)

Lotte entered 2025 coming off back-to-back postseason appearances but completely bottomed out in 2026 with a last-place finish, leading to Masato Yoshii’s departure as manager. Saburo Ohmura now takes over with the task of guiding them back. Puerto Rican slugger Neftali Soto, closing in on 200 career NPB home runs, has also been named the franchise’s second foreign-born captain.

The Marines added former BayStars starter Andre Jackson and relievers Sam Long and Jose Castillo over the winter, but the roster is otherwise largely unchanged, meaning internal development will be key. If Ryusei Terachi, Daito Yamamoto, and Misho Nishikawa can take another step forward alongside a solid foundation of Soto, Akito Takabe, Kyota Fujiwara, and Yudai Fujioka, the offense could creep closer to league average.

On the pitching front, ace Atsuki Taneichi and rising star Haruya Tanaka offer major upside at the top, but much will depend on whether younger options like rookie Kaito Mouri or sophomore Yuto Kimura can contribute. The rotation will need to find stability, especially with a bullpen that ranked last in NPB in ERA last season.

Expectation: Not a Playoff Team

Central League

Hanshin Tigers (2025: 85-54-1, Lost Japan Series vs. SoftBank)

Rookie skipper Kyuji Fujikawa led Hanshin to its second Japan Series appearance in three years, but fell short at the final hurdle as the Hawks proved too powerful. Still, they dominated the senior circuit, finishing 13 games clear of second place, and look well positioned to do so again in 2026.

The Tigers out-pitched everyone last season, posting a remarkable 2.21 team ERA (130 ERA+) backed by elite defense. The loss of Jon Duplantier and an injury to setup man Daichi Ishii may thin things slightly, but the staff remains robust with Shoki Murakami and Hiroto Saiki leading the rotation. Haruto Takahashi is severely injury-prone but has ace-level upside when healthy. Rookie of the Year finalist Takato Ihara and pitch-to-contact specialists Kotaro Ohtake and Masashi Itoh provide stability at the back end.

Any drop-off on the mound could be offset by the lineup. Reigning MVP Teruaki Sato leads a stacked core that includes Koji Chikamoto, Takumu Nakano, Shota Morishita, and Yusuke Ohyama. The Tigers also won the draft lottery for the nation’s top college bat in Masahiro Tateishi. Shortstop remains the one obvious hole, but new import Cam Devanney could help solidify the position.

Expectation: Pennant Favorite

Yokohama DeNA BayStars (2025: 71-66-6, Lost to Hanshin in Playoffs)

Following a Cinderella run as a three-seed to the 2024 Japan Series title, DeNA returned to the league championship last year before falling to Hanshin. Now under new manager Ryoji Aikawa, the BayStars will look to capture their first regular season pennant since 1998.

Superstar second baseman Shugo Maki remains at the center of attention as he eyes a move to MLB in the near future. Yoshitomo Tsutsugo returned to Yokohama after half a decade stateside and made an immediate impact, launching a team-high 20 home runs in just 75 games. While longtime slugger Tyler Austin and outfielder Masayuki Kuwahara left the team, the addition of switch-hitter Cooper Hummel and the reliability of bats like Tatsuo Ebina, Keita Sano, and Toshiro Miyazaki should keep the lineup very productive.

The pitching staff lost nearly 450 innings with the departures of Anthony Kay, Andre Jackson, and Trevor Bauer, leaving a significant void to fill. Still, they have a reliable workhorse in Katsuki Azuma and brought in Duplantier from Hanshin to help stabilize the rotation. Youngster Yutaro Ishida is poised for a breakout, and there is solid depth with arms like Kentaro Taira, Shinichi Ohnuki, Yu Takeda, Shintaro Fujinami, Taisei Irie, and Austin Cox. The bullpen could be a weak point, but the staff as a whole should hold its own.

Expectation: Playoff Contender

Yomiuri Giants (2025: 70-69-4, Lost to DeNA in Playoffs)

Yomiuri posted franchise cornerstone Kazuma Okamoto to MLB over the winter and also lost one of their top starters in Foster Griffin, coming just a year after Tomoyuki Sugano’s departure. Replacing that kind of production won’t be easy, but they will try to make up for it in the aggregate.

Offensively, the Giants project as relatively three-true-outcomes-heavy, with a middle of the order built around the all-or-nothing Richard Sunagawa, new import Bobby Dalbec, and returning slugger Trey Cabbage. Up the middle, Naoki Yoshikawa and Yuta Izuguchi form one of the better double-play duos in the league, while Yukinori Kishida is emerging as one of the top catchers. The addition of Go Matsumoto will also help shore up center field defense.

The rotation is similarly a high-risk, high-reward group, with the signings of Forrest Whitley, Bryan Mata, and Spencer Howard bringing upside but serious workload concerns. They join Iori Yamasaki, coming off a career year, and Shosei Togo, coming off a down year. Depth from Haruto Inoue, Yuji Akahoshi, and rookie Kazuyuki Takemaru should help round things out. The bullpen remains a strength, featuring one of the league’s best one-two punches in Taisei and Raidel Martínez.

Expectation: Playoff Contender

Chunichi Dragons (2025: 63-78-2, Missed Playoffs)

Chunichi is in the midst of one of the longest playoff droughts in world baseball. The last time they reached the postseason in 2012, Shinnosuke Abe was the CL MVP. Now he’s managing Yomiuri.

Still, there is optimism that 2026 could finally be their year. The lineup has gradually taken shape with Yuki Okabayashi, who led NPB in hits last year, and top slugger Seiya Hosokawa. Seiji Uebayashi enjoyed a renaissance, nearly going 20-20. Jason Vosler is coming off a successful debut season in Japan, and new import Miguel Sano significantly raises their power ceiling. On top of that, moving the fences in at their notoriously pitcher-friendly park could help boost the offense.

The rotation features a strong one-two punch in young WBC pitchers Hiroto Takahashi and Yumeto Kanemaru. There are some questions beyond them, but second-year foreigner Kyle Muller and rookie Masaki Nakanishi are potential X-factors. Veterans Yuya Yanagi, Yudai Ohno, Takahiro Matsuba, and Hideaki Wakui will be counted on to provide stability at the back end. If they can get out to a lead, setup man Tatsuya Shimizu and closer Shinya Matsuyama will reliably finish the job.

Expectation: Playoff Contender

Hiroshima Carp (2025: 59-79-5, Missed Playoffs)

Hiroshima has made the postseason just once in the past seven years, and it won’t be easy to buck that trend in 2026. They narrowly avoided last place by a single game last season.

The Carp brought back both Elehuris Montero and Sandro Fabián, who combined for 26 of the team’s paltry 71 home runs. Reigning batting champion Kaito Kozono will be key in driving the offense alongside Shogo Sakakura and Shosei Nakamura. If rookie Ren Hirakawa and sophomore Tai Sasaki can take a step forward, the lineup could be quietly solid.

The pitching staff is serviceable but lacks swing-and-miss upside. Masato Morishita, Hiroki Tokoda, and Daichi Ohsera always give stable innings, but none are really remarkable. Closer Ryoji Kuribayashi is also transitioning into a starting role, and the signing of Freddy Tarnok adds another capable arm, but the group will need to outperform expectations to pose a threat. The bullpen could be one of the team’s bright spots, as they led the CL in strikeout rate last year.

Expectation: Not a Playoff Team

Tokyo Yakult Swallows (2025: 57-79-7, Missed Playoffs)

Coming off a last-place finish and the worst OPS+ in NPB, Yakult posted superstar Munetaka Murakami to MLB, so things won’t get any easier. That said, they’re still trying to stay competitive under new manager Takahiro Ikeyama.

Souma Uchiyama shifts from the outfield to shortstop, Hideki Nagaoka moves to second, and Tetsuto Yamada slides over to third, though he’s well past his prime. The veteran duo of Domingo Santana and Jose Osuna — key pieces of their 2021 title — remain in the lineup, while first-round pick Ayuto Matsushita could make an immediate impact.

Pitching has long been their undoing, but there are some intriguing pieces. Kojiro Yoshimura led the team in innings last season, while former top prospect Yasunobu Okugawa looks to rediscover his ace form. Keiji Takahashi has legitimate frontline upside when healthy, and top prospect Yuto Nakamura has the stuff to develop into a star. The additions of Nash Walters and a full season of Koyo Aoyagi should at least give the staff a bit more depth.

Expectation: Not a Playoff Team

Photo: Hanshin Tigers’ Shota Morishita reacts after scoring against the Chicago Cubs during the fourth inning of a spring training baseball game in Tokyo, Saturday, March 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)