2022 Pacific League NPB set

 The Orix Buffaloes won their second straight PL crown on their way to the championship. They clinched it on the first pennant tie breaker in NPB history, as the Hawks had an identical 76-65-2 record. Masataka Yoshida helped lead them to the championship before requesting to be posted and signing for big money with the Boston Red Sox. The other big departure to the MLB was long-time Hawks ace, Koudai Senga, signing with the NY Mets. But as talent leaves, talent emerges. Roki Sasaki who was poised to blow up after a cup of coffee last season, certainly did just that. You should know about his perfect game by now, but if not here. He can make a claim already as the best pitcher in Japan at just 21 years old. Although, most still give the edge to the 24 year old, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, due to his longer track record and proven ace status. Yamamoto won the PL MVP (again) and the pitching Triple Crown (again). He's as bona fide as it gets. Both will get BIG pay days if/when they get posted to the MLB. 

NPB 2021 Pacific League

 The Pacific League was dominated by one man: Yoshinobu Yamamoto. At 22 years old, he won the Sawamura Award (given to the top pitcher in all of the NPB), the Best 9 award, the Pacific League MVP, the pitching triple crown, a gold glove, and the Olympic best pitcher award and gold medal to boot. He helped Orix go from worst to first and end the stranglehold that the Hawks have had on the Pacific League. 

Orix Buffaloes 70-55-18 (1st place Central League, Lost to the Swallows in the Japan Series)

Besides Yamamoto, Orix had the next top 3 MVP vote recepients as well. Sugimoto finished 2nd, Masataka Yoshida 3rd, and Hiroya Miyagi 4th. Yoshida led the PL in batting average, while Sugimoto led in home runs. Yoshida has a really great OB 10 card, maybe you'd want a bit more pop from him since he's only Speed C(13), but he provides a lot for under 500 points. Sugimoto is a good power bat that you'll probably want to have DHing for you. Yuma Mune won the Best 9 and gold glove award at 3B, but he's more solid than spectacular. I like both catchers as viable options. 

Yamamoto's 2021: 18-5, 1.39 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, 7 HRs allowed in 193.67 IP, 5.8 H/9, 9.6 K/9, 5.15 K/BB, 6 complete games, 4 shutouts. Here's a video from Pitching Ninja on his curveball 

The pitching is obviously headlined by the Tier 0 Yamamoto, but Hiroya Miyagi was only 19 years old and had an incredible season in his own right (and somehow stole one first place MVP vote from Yamamoto). The rest of the staff has a lot of usable Tier 3 arms, although the closer, Yoshihisa Hirano, is a solid Tier 2 option.  

Best 9: Masataka Yoshida, Yutaro Sugimoto, Yuma Mune, Yoshinobu Yamamoto

Foils: Masataka Yoshida, Yutaro Sugimoto, Yuma Mune, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Hiroya Miyagi

2020/1 Olympians: Masataka Yoshida, Yoshinobu Yamamoto