It was revealed on the 16th that Nippon-Ham pitcher Hiromi Ito (29) is considering a move to the U.S. Major Leagues this offseason via the posting system. He has already conveyed his intention to challenge the majors to the club through his agent, and formal discussions are expected to take place after the postseason ends.

In his sixth season this year, he started 26 games, recording 10 wins and 10 losses with an ERA of 3.18. He has reached the required innings pitched for six consecutive years since joining the team and has also marked double-digit wins for three consecutive years. He has long held a dream of playing at the world's highest level and is considering the challenge as he turns 30 next season. Since the earliest he could acquire international free agency rights would be during the 2029 season, he will aim for a transfer via the posting system. Before the WBC in March, he continued to evolve while envisioning a future challenge, stating, 'It is certainly something I keep in my heart, so I hope to appeal to the world through stages like this (the WBC).'

MLB clubs have been closely monitoring the status of the right-hander who won the Sawamura Award last season. If the club allows his move to the Major Leagues via the posting system, he will become the fifth player to do so, following Darvish, Ohtani, Arihara, and Uwasawa.

Ito, a Hokkaido native who joined the team as a first-round draft pick, feels a deep sense of gratitude, stating, 'The club has invested a lot in me. I also have a strong desire to win a championship with this team.' He is highly committed to winning a league title, which the team has not achieved since 2016. The application period runs from November 1st to December 15th. All eyes are on the ace's next move.