Sports · Baseball · 4 hrs ago
Fighters approve Hiromi Ito's move to seek an MLB team
The Nippon Ham Fighters approved pitcher Hiromi Ito's move to pursue MLB and began the posting process on Nov.
1.
Ito is 29 and from Hokkaido, Japan, and has played for the Fighters since 2021.
He is seeking a move to Major League Baseball next season, a goal he says he has had since childhood.
The posting system lets a Japanese club agree to release a player who has not yet qualified for international free agency.
Ito won the Sawamura Award in 2025 as Japan's top starting pitcher and led the Pacific League in wins in both 2024 and 2025.
He had 10 wins and a 3.18 earned-run average in 2026, with 65 wins and a 2.92 ERA over his NPB career.
He must now pursue a contract with an MLB team, though no team or deal is named.
The Nippon Ham Fighters have approved pitcher Hiromi Ito’s move to seek a transfer to Major League Baseball through the posting system.
The club said it began the application process on November 1.
Ito, 29, said playing in the majors had been a childhood dream and that he wanted to play there from next season.
He won the Eiji Sawamura Award in 2025 as the most outstanding starting pitcher in Nippon Professional Baseball.
Ito has a 65-51 career record and a 2.92 earned-run average in 152 NPB appearances.
- Who
- Hiromi Ito, a 29-year-old pitcher for the Nippon Ham Fighters.
- What
- The Fighters approved his pursuit of an MLB move through the posting system and began the application process.
- When
- November 1, 2026.
- Where
- The move is to Major League Baseball in the United States.
- Why
- Ito said playing in the majors had been a dream since childhood. The club said his contributions to the team were recognized.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Ito joined the Fighters as a first-round draft pick after playing for Tomakomai Komazawa University.
Ito led the Pacific League with 14 wins.
Ito led the Pacific League with 14 wins and received the Eiji Sawamura Award.
The Fighters approved Ito’s posting-system move to MLB and began the application process.
- Age
- 29
- Posting decision
- Fighters approved the move on November 1, 2026
- 2025 award
- Eiji Sawamura Award
- 2026 season
- 10 wins, 10 losses, 3.18 ERA
- NPB career
- 65 wins, 51 losses, 2.92 ERA in 152 appearances
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What people are saying
Playing in the majors has been a dream of mine since I was little, and one of the things that I've always aimed for
I have a strong desire to play there from next season.
世界最高峰の舞台で勝負したいと思う
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伊藤大海投手のポスティングシステム申請手続きについて 北海道日本ハムファイターズは本日11月1日（日）、伊藤大海投手（29）のポスティングシステムを利用した米国・メジャーリーグ（MLB）移籍を承認し、申請手続きを開始したことをお知らせいたします。 #lovefighters