Japanese pitcher Natsuki Toda indicators his new contract with the NC Dinos, Wednesday. Courtesy of NC Dinos
The NC Dinos have signed former Yomiuri Giants pitcher Natsuki Toda as their new Asian quota participant for the 2026 season.
The Dinos introduced Wednesday that Toda, 25, agreed to a one-year deal price as much as US$130,000. His wage might be $100,000, and he obtained a signing bonus of $20,000. The suitable-hander can earn one other $10,000 in incentives.
Beginning within the 2026 season, Korea Baseball Group (KBO) golf equipment are allowed to signal an additional foreign-born participant, both from an Asian nation or Australia, along with their normal three international gamers. The Dinos grew to become the seventh workforce amongst 10 golf equipment to fill their Asian quota, and Toda is the fifth Japanese participant.
Toda made his Giants debut in 2021, and he has logged 27 2/3 innings throughout 19 outings in 2021, 2022 and 2025, posting a 5.53 ERA with 15 strikeouts towards eight walks.
Toda spent the intervening years with the Giants’ minor league membership, the place he pitched to a 2.42 ERA in 81 2/3 innings in 35 appearances, together with seven begins, with a 4-4 document and 73 strikeouts towards 14 walks.
The Dinos stated Toda has a six-pitch combine with four-seam fastball, two-seam fastball, forkball, slider, curveball and cutter, and may contact 150 kilometers per hour along with his four-seamer.
“We saved an eye fixed on Toda for a very long time. He is ready to begin and in addition pitch in reduction,” Dinos common supervisor Lim Solar-nam stated. “He can pile up strikeouts along with his regular command. We put him by a take a look at in October to get our firsthand look, and we anticipate him to strengthen our pitching workers along with his versatility.”
The Dinos had two American starters of their rotation in 2025 with Riley Thompson and Logan Allen. They’ve determined to not re-sign Allen however are attempting to convey again Thompson, who tied for the KBO lead with 17 wins and completed third with 216 strikeouts.
