August 15, 2026

Ultimate Guide: Best Pitchers to Use in eBaseball Pro Spirit 2026

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Ultimate Guide: Best Pitchers to Use in eBaseball Pro Spirit 2026

By Nick | August 15, 2026
Baseball pitcher seen from behind throwing a ball on a field, wearing a navy and red jersey with number 16.

Additionally, best pitchers eBaseball Pro Spirit 2026 use real 2026 Nippon Professional Baseball rosters, and ratings match player performance.

So the best pitchers to use are, simply, the best pitchers in NPB right now. Here are the aces you want on the mound, why they are elite in real life, and how that translates when you take the ball in game.

Rankings here follow the real world NPB pitching picture rather than a published in game overall, since Konami does not print a single master rating list.

How to Read This List

A quick note before the names. This game rewards command and pitch mixing far more than raw velocity.

However, these pitchers stand out as the best pitchers eBaseball Pro Spirit 2026 because most of them pair good stuff with elite control and deep arsenals.

When you pick an arm, look past the fastball number and check the walk rate, the number of quality secondary pitches, and stamina.

For the mechanics side of getting the most out of any of them, see our pitching guide linked at the bottom.

1. Livan Moinelo, LHP, SoftBank Hawks

  • The reigning NPB MVP and the best all around arm you can hand the ball to.
  • Moinelo posted a 1.46 ERA in 2025 as SoftBank's ace, working a low to mid 90s fastball off a devastating changeup, a huge spinning curveball, and a cutter.
  • He misses bats, limits walks, and backs one of the best teams in the game, so he is the safe number one pick for winning right out of the box.

2. Hiromi Itoh, RHP, Nippon Ham Fighters

  • If you want a true workhorse, this is your guy.
  • Itoh won the 2025 Sawamura Award, NPB's Cy Young equivalent, on the back of one of the deepest arsenals in the world, ten or more distinct pitch shapes and a 92 to 95 mph fastball he commands beautifully.
  • His absurd strikeout to walk ratio makes him a joy to pitch with, because you can attack the zone without fear and mix speeds all day.

3. Hiroya Miyagi, LHP, Orix Buffaloes

  • Miyagi is the pick for players who love painting corners.
  • He sits just under 91 on the fastball but wins with a deceptive crossfire delivery, a low arm slot, and pinpoint glove side command, plus a nasty sweeper and a splitter.
  • He led qualified NPB starters in several bat missing metrics in 2025, and in a command first game like this, that skill set is gold.

4. Shunpeita Yamashita, RHP, Orix Buffaloes

  • Pure stuff? Nobody beats him.
  • Yamashita brings a fastball that averages 97 and touches 99, paired with an elite splitter and a spike curveball, the highest ceiling arm in Japan.
  • The catch is durability and command, so he is the high risk, high reward power pick rather than the steady horse. When you want to blow hitters away, hand him the ball.

5. Shoki Murakami, RHP, Hanshin Tigers

  • The 2023 Central League Rookie of the Year and MVP
  • Murakami is a master of sequencing and changing speeds, right down to flipping a sub 55 mph eephus to freeze hitters.
  • His fastball only sits around 91, but he spots it to both edges and pairs it with a split change that generates absurd swing and miss.

6. Jon Duplantier, RHP, Yokohama DeNA BayStars

  • The best (and only) import arm on the list.
  • A former top Diamondbacks prospect, Duplantier posted a ridiculous 1.39 ERA in 2025 with a 93 plus fastball and plus curveball, sweeper, and changeup.
  • On a per inning basis he was the most dominant starter in the league. Injury history is the only knock, so he is a monster when healthy.

7. Hiroto Takahashi, RHP, Chunichi Dragons

  • A high velocity ceiling pick.
  • Takahashi has ranked among the hardest throwing NPB starters at nearly 95 mph, with a world class hard splitter that misses bats in bunches.
  • He is a two time World Baseball Classic selection at a young age.

8. Atsuki Taneichi, RHP, Chiba Lotte Marines

  • The strikeout surge pick.
  • Taneichi inherited the ace role in Lotte after Roki Sasaki left, and after a slow start he caught fire, leading all NPB qualifiers in second half strikeout rate and once punching out 15 in a game.
  • His high 80s splitter and mid 80s slider are the put-away weapons. If his late 2025 form holds, he is a rising star.

Rising Arms and Deep Cuts Worth a Look

  • Kaima Taira (Seibu Lions), a converted closer with a 96 mph fastball and a starter's seven pitch mix.
  • Chihiro Sumida (Seibu Lions), a crafty lefty with a double plus changeup and splitter.
  • Koki Kitayama (Nippon Ham Fighters), big strikeout upside behind a 93 plus fastball and splitter.
  • Yumeto Kanemaru (Chunichi Dragons), a decorated young lefty with real ace upside to develop in career modes.

The Bottom Line

If you just want to win now, start Livan Moinelo or Hiromi Itoh behind a strong team. If you love outsmarting hitters, Miyagi and Murakami reward command and sequencing.

And if you want pure heat, Yamashita is your flamethrower. Whoever you pick, get the most out of them with our eBaseball Pro Spirit 2026 pitching guide, and if you are still choosing a squad, our best teams ranking pairs perfectly with this list.

FAQ

So, who are best pitchers eBaseball Pro Spirit 2026?

Livan Moinelo of the SoftBank Hawks is the top all around pick. As the reigning NPB MVP with elite command and a deep, bat missing arsenal on one of the best teams, he is the safest ace to build around.

Who has the fastest fastball in the game?

Shunpeita Yamashita of the Orix Buffaloes, whose heater averages around 97 mph and touches 99. He has the highest raw stuff of any NPB starter, though durability and command make him a boom or bust choice.

Does velocity or control matter more in Pro Spirit 2026?

Control and pitch mixing matter more. The game rewards spotting the ball, changing speeds, and setting up an out pitch, which is why command artists like Hiroya Miyagi and Shoki Murakami are so effective.

Are these the exact in game overall ratings?

Not exactly. Konami does not publish a single master overall list, so this ranking follows the real NPB 2026 pitching picture, which the game's ratings track closely. Individual attribute grades will vary a little inside the game.

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