Former MLBers Gearing up for 2026 NBP Season
Opening Day of the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) is now less than a month away. This 2026 NPB campaign will once again present a bevy of former MLB prospects and players that should be interesting to follow. Some of these players have enjoyed multiple successful years already in the league. While a few fresh faces have a chance to burst onto the scene and become instant stars for their new fanbases to cheer. Let’s look at some of the notable players set to take on the NPB Pacific League this season.
Carter Stewart (Pitcher), Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
The first player to highlight is a player that has already 3 prior years of NPB experience. Pitcher Carter Stewart is an arm the reigning champion SoftBank Hawks are happy to have returning this 2026. Stewart missed the beginning of last season for the club with a left abdominal muscle strain; in a season he ended up not making an appearance for SoftBank. Now he comes into the 2026 campaign ready to add to a pitching staff that was instrumental in their run to a 2025 Championship. Stewart has put together solid numbers over his previous 3 seasons, pitching to a 2.89 ERA, a 12-12 record, and 208 strikeouts. This includes an impressive 9-win and 1.95 ERA over 20 appearances in the 2024 campaign. It will be interesting to follow a year away from the NPB mound if Stewart becomes a regular for the Hawks again. If he can regain his 2024 form, he can truly bolster a formidable pitching staff that will look to lead the Hawks to become repeat Champs.
Rodolfo Castro (Infielder), Nippon Ham Fighters
For Rodolfo Castro he is one of the newcomers to the NPB for the 2026 season and looks to add another lively bat to a Nippon club that finished Japan Series Runner-ups last season. Castro – a former Pittsburgh Pirate and Philadelphia Phillies – brings infield versatility to Nippon with experience playing second base, shortstop, and third base. It is though his bat that makes him an asset as he presents the possibility of some power from a middle infield spot. In 194 career MLB games he collected 43 extra base hits including 22 home runs. This type of power for a primary middle infielder is valuable, and you add him to lineup that features 2025 MVP Runner up Franmil Reyes, and it expands the number of threats in an elite Ham Fighters lineup. If Castro can refine his stroke and unlock some of his untapped potential with this opportunity, he can be a true X-factor for the Ham Fighters.
Franmil Reyes (Designated Hitter), Nippon Ham Fighters
The man who goes by the nickname, “the Franimal,” is back to for his third season in the NPB. Coming off an MVP Runner-up season in 2025 and 57 home runs over last two seasons in the league the former Padres, Guardians, Royals, and Cubs Slugger is looking to post another tremendous campaign as the star DH for the Nippon Ham Fighters. His 32 homers, 90 RBI season last year was an uptick from his 25 homer, 65 RBI season in 2024. Which means there is a strong possibility he again could se his slugging numbers rise in 2026. Now as the focal point of the team who finished as the top offense in the NPB in 2025, he will get pitched even tougher. But there is no reason still to believe Reyes won’t again be in the MVP hunt while looking to help bash his club to a 2026 Japan Series victory.
Jose Urena (Pitcher), Rakuten Golden Eagles
Jose Urena is the 2nd newcomer to the NPB circuit to discuss as he is set to take the mound for the Rakuten Golden Eagles in 2026. Urena has a combination of a ton of major league experience and intriguing versatility mound that will make him a major asset for Rakuten. Urena bring a full pitch mix of a sinker, slider, changeup, fastball, and split. Presenting a strong mid to high 90s sinker and fastball with a slider best used against righties and change a swing and miss pitch versus lefties. He has 158 career MLB starts showcasing the experience to still contribute as a starter. But adding to the opportunities across multiple big-league clubs he got as a reliever his last couple pro seasons and the options he can provide for the Golden Eagles staff are interesting.
Alexander Canario (Outfielder), Seibu Lions
The final newcomer that will be intriguing to watch this year is outfielder Alexander Canario who will join the Seibu Lions. Canario brings an enticing level of power to the plate that will be especially useful for a Lions club that had just 3 players hit double digit home runs and only one reach 20+ (Tyler Nevin w/ 21 HR). He at the same time presents a high probability of swing and missing, which also will be something he must adjust to find success in this league. He, in 87 plate appearances with the Pittsburgh Pirates, hit 6 home runs and collected 20 RBI so there is talent there to be unlocked. This is why he is a good gamble for Seibu to take on because if he can be the latest import to discover his professional swing then that adds a major boost to a Seibu club in need of more offensive firepower.
Trey Wingenter (Pitcher), Seibu Lions
Wingenter is going into his 2nd season in the NPB and after the dominant year he had in 2025 he will be taking the mound with supreme confidence. In his first NPB season with the Seibu Lions Wingenter finished tied for 3rd in total strikeouts by Pacific League relievers with 69 in just 46.2 innings pitched. His 1.74 ERA was 6th among qualified relief pitchers in the Pacific League. Plus, he allowed the 5th fewest hits among Pacific League relievers last season. The combination of a high 90s fastball and power slider made him immediately one of the best swing and miss arms in Japan in 2025. Now as 2026 approaches after flourishing in a set-up man role last year, he could get some more looks in a closer’s role. But if Seibu elects though to keep him in a 7th – 8th inning type role they can feel confident that those innings will be in good hands.