Former MLBers Thriving in Nippon Pro Baseball
The Nippon Professional Baseball season is winding down which means there are talented players to discuss. Specifically, there are several former Major League Baseball players that currently call the league home. From sluggers bashing their way to the top of the leaderboard, to arms dealing on the mound to an elite level all kinds of players are thriving. That is why it is a perfect time to highlight some of the top performing former MLB players that are starring in the NPB.
The first player to mention is former MLB slugger Franmil Reyes who has brought his homer hitting ways to the NPB. Currently playing for the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters, Reyes has been a Top 10 hitter in the Pacific League this year. He ranks 6th in batting average at a .280 clip, while leading the Pacific League in home runs (21) and RBI (65). These numbers are even more impressive when you consider he posted 25 home runs and 65 RBI in 103 games last year, displaying consistency to match if not surpass his production from last year. His production has been a huge part of the Ham Fighters currently 2nd in the Pacific League with a 60-39-2 record. Reyes has for the second straight season has been one of the premiere power hitters in the NPB and we will see if his international production nets him looks from MLB clubs going into this year’s offseason.
The next former major leaguer to highlight is pitcher Anderson Espinoza of the Orix Buffaloes. The former Chicago Cub and Red Sox/Padres prospect is in his 2nd year with the Buffaloes and is having another quality season. In his first NPB season last year he posted 7 wins and a 2.63 ERA in 22 games. This year in 16 appearances he has 3 wins, 86 strikeouts and a 3.28 ERA in 93.1 innings, being a solid rotation piece for Orix. Now Espinoza looks to lead an Orix team currently with a 50-46-3 record into the postseason and back to the top of the mountain.
This former MLBer spent 4 years in the big leagues across three different organizations and is now one of the centerpieces of the NPB’s Seibu Lions. Tyler Nevin played 192 games over 4 seasons with the Orioles, Tigers, and A’s hitting just .204 with 12 career homers. Now in his first season of international baseball with Seibu has posted a .289 average and 11 home runs in 102 games this season. He is 5th in batting average and is leading the Pacific League in doubles with 22 highlighting some quality gap power. Despite the Lions playing to a sub-.500 record at 46-52-2 Nevin has grasped his opportunity to play everyday in Japan and is having his best professional baseball season thus far.
Former MLB reliever Andres Machado is the next former stateside pro to discuss tearing it up in the NPB. Machado previously got MLB experience with the Kansas City Royals and the Washington Nationals over a 4-year big-league career – 3 with the Nationals. Now after posting an underwhelming 4.48 ERA during his time in the Majors, he has found significant success overseas in Japan. In 42 games this season Machado has been one of the top relievers in the NPB. He has posted a 1.56 ERA in 40.1 innings, while putting up an impressive 50 strikeouts over those frames. He has been a great late game reliver picking up 19 saves and 7 holds on the year. His 19 saves ranks second in the Pacific League as he has settled in as one of the top closers in the league. Overall, after an up-and-down MLB stint he has refined himself as a bullpen arm and now should feel confident in getting some looks from teams to come back stateside this offseason.
The final player to highlight that has made a name for himself on the international circuit this year is Spencer Howard. The right-hander spent 5 years in the Majors with 4 different franchises, these being Philadelphia, Texas, San Francisco, and Cleveland. Howard compiled an ERA of 7.00 in 47 career MLB games – certainly less than impressive – but now has begun his NPB career strong. In six games thus far with the Rakuten Golden Eagles Howard has posted a 1.53 ERA in 35.1 innings pitched. He has also compiled a spotless 4-0 record as one of the clubs’ better arms since his arrival. Now despite this Rakuten is only 47-50-2 on the year but Howard has quickly made himself an intriguing piece for their staff that could stick through into next season. At the same time if Howard can continue this run of success for the rest of the Eagles season, he may have a few MLB clubs knocking on his door.
The NPB has provided an opportunity for a number of former MLB players to continue their pro career aspirations over the years. Based on this year’s crop of players the impact has been felt across the Pacific League. Now it will be exciting to see how some of these players among others currently in the NPB affect this year’s postseason.