Dinos sign Japanese pitcher Toda as Asian quota player

Japanese pitcher Natsuki Toda signs 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 player for the 2026 season.

The Dinos announced Wednesday that Toda, 25, agreed to a one-year deal worth up to US$130,000. His salary will be $100,000, and he received a signing bonus of $20,000. The right-hander can earn another $10,000 in incentives.

Starting in the 2026 season, Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) clubs are allowed to sign an extra foreign-born player, either from an Asian country or Australia, in addition to their usual three foreign players. The Dinos became the seventh team among 10 clubs to fill their Asian quota, and Toda is the fifth Japanese player.

Toda made his Giants debut in 2021, and he has logged 27 2/3 innings across 19 outings in 2021, 2022 and 2025, posting a 5.53 ERA with 15 strikeouts against eight walks.

Toda spent the intervening years with the Giants' minor league club, where he pitched to a 2.42 ERA in 81 2/3 innings in 35 appearances, including seven starts, with a 4-4 record and 73 strikeouts against 14 walks.

The Dinos said Toda has a six-pitch mix with four-seam fastball, two-seam fastball, forkball, slider, curveball and cutter, and can touch 150 kilometers per hour with his four-seamer.

"We kept an eye on Toda for a long time. He is able to start and also pitch in relief," Dinos general manager Lim Sun-nam said. "He can pile up strikeouts with his steady command. We put him through a test in October to get our firsthand look, and we expect him to strengthen our pitching staff with his versatility."

The Dinos had two American starters in their rotation in 2025 with Riley Thompson and Logan Allen. They have decided not to re-sign Allen but are trying to bring back Thompson, who tied for the KBO lead with 17 wins and finished third with 216 strikeouts.