KBO and NPB stars we could see in MLB soon

Now that the Rangers have claimed their first World Series title, we’ve entered one of the most fascinating offseasons ever -- on both sides of the Pacific.

And while Shohei Ohtani is a major storyline, he isn’t the only one.

Industry experts say this winter features one of the strongest markets on record for players moving to Major League Baseball from the top leagues in Japan and Korea.

Here are the key names to know, in addition to a certain two-way phenom who has captivated the Majors since 2018.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto, RHP, Orix Buffaloes
Yamamoto, 25, is poised to arrive to the Majors via the posting system as one of the most decorated pitchers in Nippon Professional Baseball history. He just won his third consecutive Sawamura Award as the league’s top pitcher; he is only the second to accomplish that feat, following Masaichi Kaneda 65 years ago.

The Yankees, Red Sox, Dodgers and Cardinals are viewed as top suitors for Yamamoto, with Yankees GM Brian Cashman among the MLB executives who scouted his no-hitter in person earlier this year.

Multiple MLB talent evaluators believe Yamamoto’s guarantee will exceed the five-year, $75 million contract Kodai Senga signed with the Mets last offseason. While Yamamoto’s new MLB team must pay a posting fee to the Buffaloes, his market value will be helped by the absence of Draft pick compensation.

Yamamoto’s season isn’t over yet. In fact, he struggled in his most recent start. He allowed seven earned runs to the Hanshin Tigers in Game 1 of the Japan Series; that is the most he’s given up in any outing of his NPB career, according to Jason Coskrey of the Japan Times. But Yamamoto has the chance to end his season -- and Buffaloes career -- on a high note. He’s scheduled to start Saturday in Game 6.

• Get to know Yoshinobu Yamamoto

Jung Hoo Lee, OF, Kiwoom Heroes
Lee, 25, is an intriguing option for MLB teams, especially given the relative shortage of top hitters available in free agency this offseason. In another respect, the timing of Lee’s posting by the Heroes is less optimal: He was limited to 86 games this season -- with an .860 OPS -- due to a left ankle fracture he sustained midway through the year.

A left-handed batter, Lee has played mostly center field in KBO. He hit a career-high 23 home runs in 2022. Lee has starred for Korea in high-level international play, including the 2023 World Baseball Classic, where he batted .429 in four games.

Lee has drawn some comparisons to Ender Inciarte, who earned three Gold Gloves and made an All-Star appearance with the Braves during a three-year span from 2016-18. Lee also has one of the best nicknames in sports: “Grandson of the Wind,” because his father, the retired Korean baseball icon Jong Beom Lee, is known as “Son of the Wind.”

The Heroes announced in January that they would post Lee, so they’ve had time to prepare for the departure of their superstar. But the KBO postseason is ongoing, so the official start of Lee’s posting window is probably at least two weeks away. The Cardinals, Yankees, Padres and Giants are among the clubs expected to look for impact outfielders this offseason.

Shōta Imanaga, LHP, Yokohama DeNA BayStars
The BayStars decided earlier this year that they would make Imanaga available to MLB teams via the posting system, with an official announcement expected following the Japan Series.

Imanaga started against Team USA in the World Baseball Classic gold medal game and earned the victory after allowing one earned run over two innings. He features a fastball that can reach 94 mph and a sharp splitter, and his stuff tends to play up because of his elite competitiveness. He's viewed as a possible No. 3 or No. 4 starter on a postseason team, with the Phillies, Cubs, Padres and Giants among the lefty's possible landing spots.

Yariel Rodriguez, RHP, Chunichi Dragons
There’s an element of mystery surrounding Rodriguez, who hasn’t pitched in competitive games since this year’s World Baseball Classic. He started twice for Cuba in the tournament, allowing two earned runs over 7 1/3 innings. He subsequently defected from Cuba and didn’t pitch in NPB this year after spending the previous three seasons with the Dragons.

Rodriguez’s success in Japan came mostly as a reliever, and that appears to be his most likely path to the Majors. MLB has yet to formally declare Rodriguez a free agent, a process contingent on where -- and when -- he establishes residency.

Yuki Matsui, LHP, Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles
Matsui, who turned 28 in October, has accrued enough service time in NPB to gain full international free agency; the fact that he can avoid the posting system means he’s even more appealing to MLB teams. The overwhelming expectation is that he’ll pitch in North America in 2024.

Matsui has a unique release point, and teams are intrigued by his favorable pitch metrics. He is 5-foot-9 and throws a four-seam fastball, splitter and slider. He’s not viewed as an MLB closer, but there’s a good chance he’ll sign as a seventh-inning reliever.

Naoyuki Uwasawa, RHP, Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters
The Fighters already have announced that Uwasawa will be posted this offseason. Although it may seem early in the offseason to hear such definitive word from the club, the Fighters have a deep understanding of the posting process. Yu Darvish and Ohtani went through the same steps after beginning their NPB careers with the Fighters.

Uwasawa likely profiles as a long reliever or back-end starter in the Majors. He finished this season with 124 strikeouts in 170 innings, a lower K/9 rate than many current MLB starters. But Uwasawa has trained at Driveline in the Seattle area and has an advanced feel for how to deploy his impressive breaking pitches to work deeply into games.

Erick Fedde, RHP, NC Dinos
Merrill Kelly’s development in the Korea Baseball Organization and return to North America were key components in the D-backs’ run to the National League pennant. Some in the industry believe Fedde could make a similarly successful transition from KBO to MLB and settle into a rotation spot.

Fedde, who turns 31 in February, is a free agent after starring for the Dinos this season, posting a 2.00 ERA in 180 1/3 innings. Fedde struck out more than one batter per inning, thanks to a sweeper that he’s honed since departing the Nationals following the 2022 season.

J.B. Wendelken, RHP, Yokohama DeNA Bay Stars
Wendelken, 30, is a free agent after posting excellent numbers in his first season with the Bay Stars, mostly in a setup role. He could remain in NPB for the 2024 season or choose to return to MLB, where he had a 4.00 ERA over 144 relief appearances from 2016 through 2022.