Yuri Karasawa (https://x.com/yakyucosmo) and Brandon Tew (https://x.com/brandonteweets) answer some listener mailbag questions. Which NPB players will be posted to MLB in the near future? What are Japan's expectations at the 2026 WBC? Can the Fighters beat the Hawks? And many more!

00:00 - Introductions
01:42 - Carter Stewart Jr. 2026 Expectations?
05:50 - Dark Horses to be Posted to MLB?
12:37 - Samurai Japan's Strengths & Weaknesses?
16:42 - Japan's WBC Expectations?
22:08 - How Can DeNA Replace Anthony Kay?
25:25 - Yuudai Yamamoto & Shion Matsuo Platoon?
30:55 - Can the Fighters overtake the Hawks?
36:07 - Realistic Trades for Fighters' Pitchers?
41:58 - Top Prospects to Watch in 2026?
48:15 - Why No More Korean Players in NPB?
55:07 - Dead Ball Impact on Hitters vs. Pitchers?
1:04:09 - Conclusion

Yuri Karasawa (https://x.com/yakyucosmo) and Brandon Tew (https://x.com/brandonteweets) break down their top 20 starting pitchers in Nippon Professional Baseball for the 2026 season. Where do they agree and disagree?

Yuri's Breakdowns: https://www.justbaseball.com/international-baseball/npb-top-15-starting-pitcher-rankings-2026/
Brandon's Scouting Reports: https://www.prospectslive.com/author/brandon-tew/

00:00 - Introduction
02:53 - Shunpeita Yamashita, Hiromi Itoh, Livan Moinelo, Hiroya Miyagi
13:50 - Atsuki Taneichi & Jon Duplantier
21:07 - Kaima Taira & Forrest Whitley
30:32 - Chihiro Sumida & Koki Kitayama
37:36 - Hiroto Takahashi & Shoki Murakami
53:32 - Haruto Takahashi & Hiroto Saiki
01:03:16 - Haruya Tanaka, Kota Tatsu, Yumeto Kanemaru
01:11:38 - Katsuki Azuma & Ryuhei Sotani
01:17:23 - Ruei-Yang Gu Lin & Iori Yamasaki
01:22:59 - Just Outside the Top 20

Yuri Karasawa (https://x.com/yakyucosmo) and Brandon Tew (https://x.com/brandonteweets) break down the offseason foreign player signings in Nippon Professional Baseball. Plus, another look at Samurai Japan's 2026 World Baseball Classic team following the full roster reveal.

00:00 - Introduction
02:03 - New MLB Players on Samurai Japan
05:40 - New NPB Players on Samurai Japan
15:56 - Roster Grade?
19:21 - Hanshin/SoftBank: Devanney, Ragsdale, Moreta, Hsu
26:15 - DeNA/Nipponham: Hummel, Duplantier, Ruiz, Reynolds, Cox, Castro, Lao
35:37 - Yomiuri/Orix: Dalbec, Howard, Whitley, Mata, Seymour, Hjelle
44:44 - Chunichi/Rakuten: Sano, Abreu, McCusker, Contreras, Urena
54:54 - Hiroshima/Seibu: Tarnok, Lin, Canario, Winans
01:01:01 - Yakult/Lotte: Jackson, Long, Castillo, Liranzo, Walters, Quijada
01:06:25 - NPB vs. KBO Foreign Players
01:09:45 - Conclusion

Yuri Karasawa (https://x.com/yakyucosmo) and Brandon Tew (https://x.com/brandonteweets) break down the MLB signings of Munetaka Murakami, Tatsuya Imai, and Kazuma Okamoto. Plus, previewing Samurai Japan's chances at the 2026 World Baseball Classic with 19 of the 30 roster spots officially confirmed.

00:00 - Introduction
02:25 - Murakami, Imai, Okamoto Find MLB Homes
07:13 - Okamoto to Toronto
10:07 - Murakami to CWS
15:28 - Imai to Houston
23:51 - Posting System Reform?
29:24 - Can Japan Compete with USA and DR?
37:45 - Japan's Pitching Staff
53:20 - Japan's Catching
56:35 - Japan's Infield
58:36 - Japan's Outfield
01:07:04 - Conclusion