Yugo Maeda (born August 4, 2005; currently 20 years old) is a professional baseball pitcher who throws left and bats left. Originally from Nagahama City, Shiga Prefecture, he plays for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks.
He started baseball in elementary school, played for the Kohoku Boys in middle school, and excelled at Osaka Toin High School.
He contributed to victories at Koshien and the U-18 World Cup before joining SoftBank as the first-round draft pick in 2023.
His jersey number is 41.
Using his changeup—often called a "magic ball" since his high school days—as his primary weapon, he commands a fastball reaching up to 150 km/h and a variety of breaking balls.
After earning his first professional win in 2025, he recorded 11 consecutive wins from the start of the 2026 season, establishing himself as a highly anticipated young left-hander representing the baseball world.
He is popular for his handsome features, and his bright, slightly mischievous personality is also part of his charm.
Yugo Maeda's goal for 2026 is to "pitch through the entire year in the first squad."
His special skill is swimming.
His favorite food is yakiniku (specifically beef tongue).
He enjoys watching rugby, listening to Shota Shimizu's music, and reading mystery novels.
His idol is pitcher Shota Imanaga (Chicago Cubs).
He is also a dog person.
To children playing baseball, he sends this message: "I want you to work hard and never give up, even when things are tough."
