Hideo Nomo. Ichiro Suzuki. Hideki Matsui. Daisuke Matsuzaka. Yu Darvish. Shohei Ohtani. Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Roki Sasaki.
Every name represents a chapter in the unfolding history of Japanese stars who have captivated Major League Baseball fans during Hot Stove seasons past.
In the winter of 2025-26, we will witness something new.
The Yomiuri Giants — the Yankees of Japanese baseball — have never posted a star player in his prime. That is about to change.
Kazuma Okamoto, a six-time Nippon Professional Baseball All-Star, will be available to MLB teams this winter via the posting system.
From 2018 through 2023, Okamoto posted six straight seasons of at least 30 home runs. Matsui, who had seven such seasons in a row, was not permitted by the Giants to leave until he gained international free agency after the 2002 season. Two decades later, in a changing baseball world, the Giants have made a different choice with Okamoto.
Power hitting is the theme of this winter’s international market. Okamoto’s career high for home runs is 41. Munetaka Murakami, who will be posted by the Yakult Swallows, owns the single-season NPB home run record among Japanese-born players; that distinction belonged to the revered Sadaharu Oh until Murakami hit 56 in 2022.
Right-hander Tatsuya Imai of the Saitama Seibu Lions is likely to be the best pitcher available; a larger group of elite arms could make the move after the ’26 season.
Here’s a look at some names to know, across NPB and the Korea Baseball Organization. Ages listed are as of Opening Day 2026.
Nippon Professional Baseball
Kazuma Okamoto, 1B/3B, Yomiuri Giants (29)
MLB scouts have observed Okamoto for years, and they were well-prepared for the October announcement that the right-handed slugger will move to North America via the posting system.
A first-half elbow injury limited Okamoto to 69 games in the Central League this season. Upon his return, he was more productive than ever; he finished the year with an OPS over 1.000 and 15 home runs in fewer than 300 plate appearances.
Okamoto has played more games at third base than first during his NPB career, and that trend continued in 2025. His Major League comparisons from recent decades include Aramis Ramírez and Vinny Castilla.
The New York Mets and Detroit Tigers are among the possible suitors for Okamoto, given their need for improved production at the hot corner. Tigers third basemen combined for an American League-low .628 OPS in 2025, and the Mets are looking at corner infielders with Pete Alonso entering free agency.
It will be interesting to see if Okamoto elects to participate in the 2026 World Baseball Classic or prioritize remaining in camp with his new MLB team. Okamoto’s home run in the ’23 gold medal game provided the decisive run in Japan’s win over Team USA.
Munetaka Murakami, 1B/3B, Yakult Swallows (26)
In several ways, Murakami is the mirror image of Okamoto. Murakami is left-handed; Okamoto is right-handed. Murakami hits for more power; Okamoto is the better defensive infielder, according to metrics.
They represent the two NPB clubs within Tokyo’s city limits. Okamoto plays for the Giants, who have won the most Japan Series titles (22) of any team; Murakami is an all-time great of the more junior club in the Japanese capital.
Murakami is poised to land the larger guarantee, for two principal reasons: He is younger, and teams covet the raw left-handed power he possesses.
The Phillies could sign Murakami to play third base or designated hitter, if Kyle Schwarber does not return. Murakami also could play first base at the MLB level. For that reason, he fits well with the Mariners if they aren’t able to re-sign free agent Josh Naylor.
Tatsuya Imai, RHP, Saitama Seibu Lions (27)
The Lions have yet to make a formal announcement, but MLB team officials are preparing for the strong possibility that Imai will be available via the posting system.
From Imai’s perspective, the timing is right: He’s coming off a season in which he pitched in a combined no-hitter and earned a second consecutive All-Star selection. He relies on his fastball (often in the 95 mph range) and slider; he also utilizes splitters to left-handed batters.
On entry to MLB, Imai’s profile is similar or perhaps slightly above right-hander Kodai Senga, who signed with the Mets for five years and $75 million.
The San Francisco Giants are among the possible suitors for Imai. MLB team officials are familiar with the Lions from previous postings of Matsuzaka and Yusei Kikuchi. If the Lions decline to make Imai available this winter, it would be because of a hesitancy to lose two starting pitchers in a single offseason. That brings us to …
Kona Takahashi, RHP, Saitama Seibu Lions (29)
Takahashi will get his wish to be posted, but likely too late to get the lucrative MLB deal he’s sought for years.
The Lions declined to post Takahashi when his value was highest, after the 2022 and 2023 seasons. Then came a disappointing 2024 in which he went 0-11 with a 3.87 ERA. He performed better this year, but his strikeout-to-walk ratio is below that of top-tier NPB starters.
According to Yuri Karasawa, the Japanese-American journalist and engaging presence on X (@yakyucosmo), part of the Lions’ motivation in posting Takahashi now is that he’s currently eligible for domestic free agency. Under the posting system, the Lions can receive financial compensation if he signs with an MLB team; according to Karasawa, compensation in domestic free agency is an unprotected player from the signing club’s roster.
Hiroto Saiki, RHP, Hanshin Tigers (27)
In the immediate aftermath of the Tigers’ loss in the Japan Series, it is unlikely that the club will post Saiki this offseason. But MLB fans should learn his name, because Saiki probably will move to North America in the coming years.
Saiki missed nearly all of 2020 and 2021 due to Tommy John surgery. He’s more than made up for it since, with a 1.71 ERA over 490 1/3 innings in the last four seasons. He’s known for a dynamic fastball-forkball repertoire and plus command.
Foster Griffin, LHP, Yomiuri Giants (30)
The Orlando, Fla., native has had a career renaissance since undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2020. After limited Major League time as a reliever with the Royals and Blue Jays, Griffin established himself as an important starter for the Giants over the past three seasons.
Griffin said in a recent interview with Robert Murray of FanSided that he now throws seven pitches, including a splitter that he added during the 2023 season. As Okamoto’s teammate with the Giants, he maintained a 1.62 ERA in 2025 while averaging roughly 5 2/3 innings per outing. He missed several starts in the second half due to a bone bruise in his knee.
Anthony Kay, LHP, Yokohama DeNA BayStars (31)
Kay appeared in 44 Major League games for the Blue Jays, Cubs and Mets between 2019 and 2023; he worked out of the bullpen most of the time but has developed into one of NPB’s top starters over two seasons with the BayStars.
After readjusting to the starting pitcher’s routine during his first year in Japan, Kay improved his pitch execution in 2025 while adding a two-seamer and curveball. As a free agent this offseason, the New York native could return to MLB or sign with an NPB club.
Kohei Arihara, RHP, Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks (33)
Arihara’s name is familiar to Texas Rangers fans and longtime followers of Japanese baseball. He signed a two-year, $6.2 million deal with the Rangers prior to the 2021 season; he was the club’s No. 2 starter to begin the year before an aneurysm in his throwing shoulder sent him to the injured list in May. Arihara never completely regained his form and spent most of the following season at Triple-A.
Arihara returned to NPB in 2023 and has been a consistent performer in the Hawks’ rotation ever since. He delivered a quality start in Game 1 of the Japan Series, allowing two earned runs over six innings while striking out five and walking none. He enters the offseason as a full international free agent and can join an MLB club without the team needing to submit a posting fee.
Korea Baseball Organization
Cody Ponce, RHP, Hanwha Eagles (31)
When an American pitcher has a chance to return from KBO, baseball observers ask whether he could be as effective as Merrill Kelly, who spent four years in Korea.
Well, none of Kelly’s campaigns were as dominant as Ponce’s KBO showing this year.
After three seasons in Japan with mixed results, Ponce put together one of the best performances in KBO history. He went a league-best 17-1 while posting the lowest ERA (1.89) and the most strikeouts (252).
He should receive a Major League contract as a starting pitcher, although offers to be an ace in Korea could prove more lucrative.
Drew Anderson, RHP, SSG Landers (32)
If it weren’t for Ponce’s history-making season, Korean baseball fans would have had greater opportunities to celebrate Anderson’s achievements with the Landers, based west of Seoul in the city of Incheon.
Anderson finished with 245 strikeouts, only seven fewer than Ponce, in a similar number of innings. The Reno, Nev., native was a reliever for the Detroit Tigers’ Triple-A affiliate as recently as 2024, but his success as a starter could open up some rotation opportunities this offseason.
Sung-Mun Song, 3B/2B, Kiwoom Heroes (29)
Earlier this year, Song told Jee-Ho Yoo of Yonhap News Agency that he would request a posting by the Heroes after the 2025 season; the club typically grants such requests, as evidenced by past decisions with Ha-Seong Kim, Jung Hoo Lee, and Hyeseong Kim.
After serving as a utility player early in his career, Song has become one of KBO’s top everyday third basemen. He posted a .917 OPS this year, along with career highs in home runs (26) and games played (144).
Lewin Díaz, 1B, Samsung Lions (29)
Díaz, the former Marlins first baseman, has become a superstar in Korea. This year, he became the first import player with a 50-homer season in KBO. While Díaz could return to the Majors as a free agent — the way Eric Thames did in 2017 after posting similar numbers — he’s likely to receive a more lucrative guarantee by remaining in Korea with the Lions or another KBO club.
Ariel Jurado, RHP, Samsung Lions (30)
Jurado didn’t have a high strikeout rate while spending the 2019 season in the Texas Rangers’ starting rotation. That has not changed in three KBO seasons, but Jurado has proven his durability by increasing his innings every year, up to 197 1/3 in 2025. Depending on how his international free agency unfolds, Jurado could have a role on Team Panama’s pitching staff at the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
Baek-Ho Kang, DH/C, KT Wiz (26)
Kang, a left-handed hitter, was one of Korea’s top power hitters from 2018 through 2021. While his production has slipped amid injuries since then, Kang posted an .825 OPS this year. He has limited catching experience in KBO; if a Major League team views him as a possible third catcher, it’s conceivable that he could sign with an MLB team as an international free agent.
