As practice games and exhibition games begin in the latter half of February, anticipation for the start of the season is building. For Pacific League fans eagerly awaiting the start of the season, Pacific League Insight introduces players to watch for the 2026 season. This time, we'll be looking at Naoki Arizono Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters.

Naoki Naoki Arizono

He is from Chiba Prefecture and was selected for Chiba Lotte Marines Junior Team during his elementary school years. After graduating from Chiba Gakugei High School, he joined Hokkaido Nippon-Ham in 2021 as the second overall pick in the draft.

In his first year, he played 60 games in the minor leagues, Home Run and 16 RBI. He appeared in 4 games in the major leagues but hit in 7 At Bat. In his second year, he played 96 games in the minor leagues, batting .211 with Home Run and 35 RBI, but went hit in 5 At Bat in 1 game in the major leagues.

In his third year, he did not appear in the first team, but his batting average improved steadily to .231, 9 Home Run and 40 RBI in 104 games. In his fourth year, last season, he was promoted to the first team on May 3, but failed to produce in three games, 9 At Bat and no hit results. Still, he continued to struggle on the farm and was promoted again on August 13. On the same day, he started at No. 7 first baseman and hit his first professional hit hit doble in the bottom of the second inning from Atsuki Taneichi pitcher to left-center field.

In the end, he played in 92 games with the minor leagues, batting .306 with 18 Home Run, 57 RBI, and a .390 on-base percentage. He was Eastern League 's leading hitter, had the most Home Run, and had the highest on-base percentage. In 12 games with the major leagues, he had 7 hit in 31 At Bat, a batting average of .226, and RBI. Although he didn't Home Run, he had a foothold for his breakthrough in his fourth year after graduating from high school.

Will he be able to make a name for himself as a first-team player this season, competing with college graduates of the same generation who were selected in the 2025 draft? We have high hopes for his first home run as a pro.