Braves' 1st-round pick never signed, left for Japan — and may have path back to MLB

Carter Stewart, drafted 8th overall by the Braves in 2018, chose to play in Japan instead of signing with the team.

Apr. 12, 2026 at 2:34pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the fractured, overlapping motion of a baseball pitcher, rendered in earthy tones of ochre, sienna, and olive green.An unconventional path from the MLB draft to Japan's professional league has Carter Stewart poised for a potential return to the big leagues.Atlanta Today

Carter Stewart, the Atlanta Braves' 2018 first-round draft pick, never signed with the team and instead opted to play professionally in Japan. Nearly a decade later, Stewart is starting to make a case for a potential return to Major League Baseball, as he has developed a strong repertoire including a 94 mph fastball, a high-RPM curveball, and an effective splitter while playing in the Nippon Professional Baseball league.

Why it matters

Stewart's unconventional path from being a high draft pick to playing in Japan is unprecedented, and his potential return to MLB could open up new possibilities for young players looking to develop their skills internationally before joining the major leagues.

The details

After being drafted 8th overall by the Braves in 2018, Stewart chose not to sign with the team and instead went to play in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball league. In Japan, Stewart has developed a strong arsenal of pitches, including a 94 mph fastball, a high-RPM curveball, and an effective splitter. His increased comfort with the splitter as a putaway pitch has been a key part of his progression, and he is now poised to potentially return to MLB as a free agent.

  • Carter Stewart was drafted 8th overall by the Atlanta Braves in the 2018 MLB Draft.
  • Stewart chose not to sign with the Braves and instead went to play professionally in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball league.

The players

Carter Stewart

A 6-foot-6, 220-pound pitcher who was drafted 8th overall by the Atlanta Braves in 2018 but chose to play in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball league instead of signing with the Braves.

Atlanta Braves

The Major League Baseball team that drafted Carter Stewart 8th overall in the 2018 MLB Draft.

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What they’re saying

“The SoftBank starter is sitting 94 mph on his fastball (touching 97) and locating it effectively at the top of the zone to set up his high-70s curveball, which is averaging over 3,100 RPM and has been his calling card since high school. What stands out most, however, is his increased comfort with a mid-80s splitter as a true putaway weapon. He's boosted the usage on it from 22% versus righties and 25% versus lefties in 2024 to 35% against both, generating a 59% whiff rate overall.”

— Yuri Karasawa, Writer

What’s next

If Carter Stewart continues to develop and perform well in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball league, he could become a free agent and have the opportunity to return to Major League Baseball in the future.

The takeaway

Carter Stewart's unconventional path from being a high draft pick of the Atlanta Braves to playing in Japan's professional league has been unprecedented, but his continued development and potential return to MLB could open up new possibilities for young players looking to take an international route to the major leagues.