The Braves are being mentioned as a possible landing spot for one of Japan’s more intriguing arms, as Hiromi Itoh continues to draw MLB attention ahead of a likely move from Nippon Professional Baseball.
Itoh, a right-hander with the Nippon Ham Fighters, was already expected to make the jump when Jorge Castillo of ESPN reported during the World Baseball Classic in March that he was widely projected to head to MLB. That expectation hasn’t changed after the Japanese season wrapped, and now MLB.com’s Michael Clair says Atlanta could be a “potential fit” once Itoh crosses over.
Clair’s International Beat newsletter pointed to a scout currently working in Japan, who suggested Itoh might wind up in relief even though he could also work as a starter. As Clair wrote:
While Itoh has an extra inch on [Kaima] Taira, he’s also 40 lbs lighter and could be ticketed for a relief role. “He could be an up and down starter,” our scout said, “but maybe in relief he might show some more velocity.
In the previous WBC, he came out of the bullpen and he was 94-96 with some nasty stuff.” However, what Itoh lacks in size, he makes up for with a deep pitch mix consisting of “10+ unique grips and shapes” as noted by Yakyu Cosmopolitan.
Itoh’s stuff and versatility are part of what makes him such a tempting name to track. He’s also built a reputation for offering plenty of different looks, with Yakyu Cosmopolitan noting that deep arsenal of “10+ unique grips and shapes.”
Performance-wise, Itoh took a step back in 2026 after a huge 2025 season. That earlier year brought him the Sawamura Award, Japan’s Cy Young equivalent, after he posted a 2.52 ERA and a 2.27 FIP over 27 starts and 196.2 innings.
In 2026, he still turned in a solid year with a 3.23 ERA and a 2.81 FIP across 26 starts and 172.2 innings, though he wasn’t quite as overpowering. His 2026 WBC showing also fell short of what he did during the 2023 WBC.
Even so, there’s enough buzz around Itoh that the Braves aren’t the only club tied to him. Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reported that the Giants were spotted scouting him, which only adds to the sense that MLB interest is real.
For Atlanta, it remains just a possibility for now. The Braves have been floated as a fit, but nothing is settled and nothing is official. Still, Itoh is clearly a name worth watching as his MLB move gets closer.
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