His four-seam fastball ranges from 92-95 mph and produced one of the best run values in NPB last year, driven by elite induced vertical break and his ability to elevate the pitch effectively. It generated a 74% strike rate and 31% CSW last year, serving as a great foundation for his plethora of off-speed weapons.
Itoh’s 2025 NPB Percentiles (min. 75 IP)
None of his secondaries immediately jump out on their own, but he features at least three or four that can be labeled as above-average to plus, including a hard splitter, short slider, sweeper, and curveball. He shows subtle variations within each offering and also mixes in a cutter, sinker, kick change, and occasional sub-60 mph eephus, giving the right-hander a repertoire that spans 10 or more distinct shapes.
The Hokkaido native can be susceptible to the home run ball, which was magnified in 2025 by the hitter-friendly confines of Es Con Field, but his 46% groundball rate suggests his home run rate could come down with better fly ball luck.
Itoh’s sound mechanics, command, ability to mix and match, and capacity to consistently work deep into games draw many stylistic comparisons to Yu Darvish. He will be a key part of Japan’s World Baseball Classic rotation and could make the move stateside as early as 2027 or 2028.
1. Shunpeita Yamashita – RHP – ORIX Buffaloes
Height/Weight: 6’3”, 220 | Bat/Throw: R/R | Draft: 1st Round, 2020 NPB | Age: 23
GIPERA+K%BB%GB%421.223736.08.140.42025 stats
A 6-foot-3, 220-pound right-hander, Shunpeita Yamashita has a striking resemblance to a young Shohei Ohtani on the bump and is widely regarded as the highest-upside Japanese arm since the so-called “Monster of the Reiwa Era,” Roki Sasaki.
In parts of three NPB seasons, he’s registered a 2.19 ERA and 2.54 FIP with 215 strikeouts across 185 ⅔ innings. The 2023 Pacific League Rookie of the Year was limited to four regular season starts in 2025 due to a lingering lower-back injury, but was dominant in that small sample, striking out a whopping 36% of opposing hitters while posting a 33% CSW rate.
Yamashita’s vertically-oriented power fastball sets him apart from other NPB starters. The pitch averages 97 mph and routinely touches 99 mph.