Toyama 2026 Recap

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Wind Dancers
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Toyama 2026 Recap

#1 Post by Wind Dancers »

Toyama 2026 Recap

Toyama’s season is officially over after a disappointing effort in 2026. At 74-88, 2026 was Toyama’s worst finish since the 2021 season and is only 2 seasons removed from back-to-back playoff appearances. Injuries were the biggest factor in the decline this year which most heavily impacted the pitching staff, where only 1 starter was available for the full season.

Pitching
Pitching was an issue for Toyama this season, with the rotation and pen finishing 9th and 11th respectively in the division. SP Clayton Lewis led the charge again this season, finishing at 10-7 through 28 starts with an ERA of 2.49. Francois Gosselin, who has spent the majority of his PEBA career as a reliever, finally cemented himself as a rotation starter. Ending the year with a 3.62 ERA, Gosselin was the healthiest players in the rotation and at 26 looks like a good option moving forward. Closer Raul Cruz was traded at the deadline leaving a gap in the role that would eventually be filled by newcomer P Vincente Medina. In his first season since coming over from the WL, Medina racked up 24 saves with a 3.28 ERA. There is uncertainty in the closer role next season, with the Toyama GM contemplating shopping for a closer in the offseason.

Hitting
Hitting was the stronger, yet flawed, side of Toyama this season. Despite finishing 3rd in the SL in batting average and OBP, Toyama had a clear lack of a true power hitter. LF Willie Edmonds led the team with 21 HRs in only 379 plate appearances, but numbers went stale below him. The core of the lineup played well throughout the year, lending hope in the seasons to come. 2B Jose Escobido, 3B Ivan Juarez, and CF Donald Allen were instrumental at the plate and in the field to the success Toyama DID have.

The System
Down on the farm, the Toyama system was a resounding success with 3 of the 4 teams finishing with a winning record and AAA Yokohama making playoffs. Top prospect LF Ramiro Salinas drew eyes to Yokohama finishing with 45 steals to go along with a .273 batting average. Salinas is poised to fight for a spot in Toyama during next year’s spring training. In AA Beppu City, P Dylan McIntosh was the name on everyone’s lips. McIntosh continued his climb to Toyama with an 8-9 record that didn’t tell the story of his 2.55 ERA. P Jeffrey Mendoza made waves in single-A Takaoka sporting a 9-5 record and 2.85 ERA in his first season of pro ball. Mendoza was the first round pick in the draft this year and has high expectations. In SS-A Osakasayama, 11th round RF Jakob Vink lead the charge with a crazy .378 OBP and a +8.6 ZR in only 49 games.

Offseason
This offseason will be a busy one for the Wind Dancers with some big names expected to make moves. Toyama has a large bill when it comes to player salaries and GM Krupilis has made it clear his first goal is to cut spending. Only a few months after the departures of Cisneros and Cruz, more cuts are expected.
Toyama is widely expected to decline 1B Pablo Prado’s team option of $21m making the 37 year old a free agent. As Prado declines with age, his salary just isn’t worth the performance for the veteran who signed in 2024.
Another big name out of a contract is C Lorenzo Amador who signed a cheap 1-year deal with Toyama after spending most of 2025 playing second fiddle in Florida. Amador had a resurgence this season but with a demand for $20 million per year, is too much for Toyama to bring back.
Toyama favorite 2B Shiro Adachi is also unfortunately expected to leave the team when his contract runs out this offseason. Adachi leads the organization in games played but has fallen down to platoon infielder and has made it publicly clear he wants to be a starter.
But not all bad news in Toyama though, as 26-year-old RF Ivan Rosa is expected to re-sign with the Wind Dancers during the offseason. Rosa joined from New Jersey before the 2023 season and has been a mainstay in the Wind Dancers lineup.
Dylan Krupilis
GM - Toyama Wind Dancers
Web Admin/Tech Guru

1x PEBA Champion (2038)
3x Sovereign League Champion (2034, 2037, 2038)
1x GM of the Year (2034)
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