As practice games and exhibition games begin in late February, anticipation for the start of the season builds. For Pacific League fans who can't wait for the season to begin, Pacific League Insight introduces players to watch for the 2026 season. This time, we're pitcher Yugo Maeda Fukuoka Softbank Hawks.

Yugo Yugo Maeda

Yu Maeda, who graduated from the prestigious Osaka Toin High School and joined Fukuoka Softbank with the first pick in the 2023 draft, pitcher will enter his third year as a professional in the 2026 season. He is a left-hander who is expected to enter the starting rotation with outstanding control.

In his rookie year in 2024, he steadily gained experience on the farm and moved to the first team mound at the end of the season. After the team decided to win the league championship, on October 1, in the Orix Buffaloes game, he was entrusted with his first professional appearance and first start. Although he closer to a three-way retirement in the first inning, he faced a professional barrier, such as losing four runs in the second inning of 5 hit, and made a bittersweet debut with a score of 6 runs in the third inning. Still, in the second half of the game, the friendly batting line connected, and the score was not attached.

In 2025, his second year as a pro, pitcher Yu Maeda began to make his presence felt on the first-team stage. His second appearance came on July 13th against Tohoku Rakuten Eagles. In the sixth inning, Maeda faced the biggest crisis of the day with runners on first and second and no outs, but he escaped with triple play and instantly cut off the opponent's momentum. He pitched well, allowing only four hit and no runs in six innings, earning his first professional win.

Looking back at the 2025 season, he pitched in three games (two as a starter) for the first team, posting a record of one win and one loss with ERA of 3.97. Meanwhile, he pitched in 15 games for the farm team, posting a strong record of six wins and four losses with ERA of 1.72. It can be said that this season was one in which his excellent control, which is his trademark, as well as his ability to consistently organize games, were reflected in his performance.

The 2026 season is upon us. For pitcher Yu Maeda, this will be a year in which he aims to make the opening day first team and even establish himself in the first team's starting rotation. Expectations are high for the young left-hander to make a leap forward as the team strives to become Japan's top team for the second consecutive year.