The 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC), which concluded in March 2026 with Venezuela's victory, saw Samurai Japan reach the quarterfinals. However, the intense battles in the Japanese round and the fierce competition in Miami thrilled many fans, while the players also gained valuable experience, sparking a fire for future battles.
　
And now, the stage returns to Japan once again. On March 27th, the league's 2026 season will finally begin. Players who have experienced the world stage, as well as those who have honed their skills domestically in preparation for the opening day, will stand side by side as a new pennant race begins.

Pacific League is sure to be a fierce battleground.

Fukuoka Softbank Hawks, who is aiming for a third consecutive Pacific League title this season, will be led by Rivan Moinero pitcher, who won the Best ERA title for the second year in a row as a starter and showed dominance with a ERA 0.00 in two WBC games, Naoyuki Uwasawa​ ​pitcher, Tomohisa Ozeki pitcher, Yuki Matsumoto pitcher are listed as pitcher with sufficient achievements. In the batting lineup, Yuki Yanagita player is in good form with a batting average of .360 in the open game. With a 16-year veteran as the center, a stable performance is expected this season as well.

Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, who finished second last season, will aim for even greater heights as the ace of the 2025 Sawamura Prize right-hander Hiromi Ito pitcher. Franmile Reyes, who won the Home Run and RBI crowns last season, who plays a key role in the batting lineup, will aim for the two letters of "championship" with young players who are growing rapidly. Kotaro Kiyomiya, who had been out due to injury in mid-February, went on a rampage with 3 Home Run in 5 games for the second team. He joined the first team in the final game of the open game.

Orix Buffaloes The Buffaloes, who finished third last season, will be led by Hiroya Miyagi pitcher, who is young but has a lot of experience. In fielder, the key will be whether Ryoma Nishikawa and young Ryo Ota, who were at the top of the hitter race until the end of last season, can re-challenge for the title. Both players have a decent batting average of 20.6 in the open game.

Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, who vows to rise further, is likely to have a greater impact on the addition of Kenta Maeda pitcher, who has returned to NPB. In the open game, he showed a good pitch of 1 hit 6 strike out runs in 6 innings, and the adjustment was going well. What kind of chemistry will that wealth of experience create in the young pitcher lineup, and will Carson McCusker, a new force with a .311 batting average and 3 Home Run in 17 open games, be the core of the fielder team?

Saitama Seibu Lions, who are burning with counterattacks, are without ace Tatsuya Imai pitcher, but Chihiro Sumida pitcher, who scored his first double-digit win last season, and Kaima Taira, who re-started pitcher The starting lineup is expected to work stably this season as well. In addition to Manaya Nishikawa player who reached his first regulation at-bat last season and Seiya Watanabe player who hit 12 Home Run while being a rookie, there are also new players such as Masayuki Kuwahara players acquired as a free agent. Not only defending, but also aiming to advance to the top with a baseball to win.

And Chiba Lotte Marines, who is looking to rise from the bottom, will give momentum to the team with his overwhelming strike out ability, ace Atsuki Taneichi pitcher, who has made an impact in the WBC with his powerful fastball and sharp fork. fielder However, players such as Misho Nishikawa player who won the Rookie of the Year last season and Neftali Soto, who will captain the team for the first time in 28 years as a foreigner, will be able to integrate young players and veterans under the new coach Saburo, which will greatly boost standings. High expectations are also placed on the second draft rookie Kaito Mori pitcher, who was entrusted with the opening pitcher.

Enjoy the 2026 Pacific League via streaming.

The 2026 Pacific League regular season season, which begins on March 27th, can be viewed not only at the stadiums but also through domestic streaming services. We hope you enjoy the passionate battles of Pacific League 's proud players through streaming.

<Streaming Services>
- "Rakuten Pacific League Special" (operated by Rakuten Eagles Group, Inc.)
https://sports.tv.rakuten.co.jp/pacificleague/
- "DAZN" (operated by DAZN Limited)
https://www.dazn.com/ja-JP/home
- "Baseball LIVE" (operated by Softbank Hawks Corp.)
https://baseball.mb.softbank.jp/
- "Pacific League TV" (operated by Pacific League Marketing Co., Ltd.)
https://pacificleague.com/ptv

Text by Pacific League Insight