Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters Greenlight Ace Pitcher Hiromi Itoh's MLB Posting Bid

On the 1st, the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters announced that they have approved ace pitcher Hiromi Itoh's request to pursue a transfer to Major League Baseball (MLB) via the posting system, initiating the official application process. The move marks a major step forward for the team's pillar of support, drawing significant attention from baseball fans and professionals alike.

A native of Shikabe, Hokkaido, Itoh joined Nippon-Ham as a first-round draft pick in 2021. From his rookie year onward, he established himself as an anchor of the starting rotation, consistently clearing the threshold for regulation innings pitched thanks to his exceptional stamina and consistency. Over his career, he has led the Pacific League in wins and was awarded the prestigious Sawamura Award in 2025 as Nippon Professional Baseball's (NPB) top starting pitcher, cementing his reputation as one of Japan's premier right-handers.

Manager Tsuyoshi Shinjo expressed mixed, almost paternal feelings about the departure of his indispensable ace, saying, "I want to support the path he has chosen for himself," while openly confessing, "Though of course, I wish we could play together again next season."

Following the club's official announcement, "Pitcher Hiromi Itoh" surged to the top of trending topics on Japanese social media. Fans showered him with gratitude and encouragement, posting messages such as "The pride of Hokkaido," "Thank you so much for pitching as our ace," and "Go conquer the world!" At the same time, many supporters lamented his departure, expressing sentiments like "The void he leaves behind is just too big" and "I'm going to miss him terribly."

Itoh will now enter a formal negotiation window with interested MLB clubs. Armed with pinpoint control, an extensive repertoire of breaking pitches, and a fierce sense of responsibility on the mound, Japan's ace is finally ready to test his mettle on baseball's biggest stage.

The Context

In Japanese professional baseball (NPB), players typically need to accumulate nine seasons of service time to become international free agents. However, under the posting system, an NPB club can grant an eligible player permission to negotiate a contract with MLB teams earlier in their career. The posting system has previously paved the way for international superstars such as Shohei Ohtani, Yu Darvish (both former Nippon-Ham Fighters aces), and Yoshinobu Yamamoto to transition to Major League Baseball. The Sawamura Award mentioned in the article is NPB's equivalent of MLB's Cy Young Award, designated strictly for the single most outstanding starting pitcher across both Japanese leagues.

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