NPB, KBO spring training begins with new foreign-born players

Pitchers and catchers are still at least ten days away from officially reporting to spring training camps. The Dodgers and Cubs arrive at camps first, a few days ahead of everyone else, thanks to their season-opening series in Japan.

Players will be showing up at facilities across Florida and Arizona over the next two weeks (there are always those who arrive early). Another week later there will be games being played.

Overseas, spring training is already underway both in Japan and Korea. Considering the proximity of many of their training facilities, it’s fairly common for NPB and KBO teams to play exhibition games early on in their spring schedules.

The KBO’s Opening Day is March 22. The NPB’s is March 28.

While it’s common for players with MLB/MiLB experience to head overseas to pursue opportunities in Japan and Korea (for reasons beyond the financial benefits), each league has rules limiting the number of foreign-born players on the roster.

In Japan, teams can sign as many players as they’d like but can only have four on the active roster at any given time. Additionally, teams are limited to no more than three pitchers or three hitters.

In Korea, teams can have as many as three foreign players on their roster. No more than two of them can be pitchers. The KBO also imposes a salary cap on those players.

Naturally, there has been a lot of movement here this offseason.

New to NPB

Tyler Nevin, Saitama Seibu Lions

The 27-year-old corner infielder is a career .204/.299/.315 hitter over 591 PA with the Orioles, Tigers, and Athletics over the last four years. He’s hit better over nine seasons in the minor leagues, including showing some of the power that made his father (Phil Nevin hit 208 homers and hit .270/.343/.472 over a 12-year career) such a threat.

Emmanuel Ramírez, Saitama Seibu Lions

The 30-year-old Ramírez spent ten years in the minors with multiple organizations (originally signing as an international amateur free agent with San Diego) before finally getting his chance this past season. He made 15 appearances for the Marlins, allowing 16 earned runs over 20.2 IP.

Trey Wingenter, Saitama Seibu Lions

Wingenter made a name for himself as a rookie in 2018 with the Padres but hasn’t been able to replicate that success since. He’s made 96 appearances out of the bullpen (plus one start) with the Padres, Tigers, Red Sox, and Cubs while posting a 5.66 ERA (74 ERA+) over 95.1 IP with 127 strikeouts.

Spencer Howard, Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles

Once a highly-touted prospect in the Phillies system, Howard has yet to put things together in the majors. Over five seasons with the Phillies, Rangers, Giants, and Guardians the 28-year-old has a 7.00 ERA (60 ERA+) and 1.736 WHIP over 144.0 IP.

Nick Nelson, Hanshin Tigers

Nelson posted a 5.20 ERA (80 ERA+) with 120 strikeouts and 67 walks over 114.1 IP with the Yankees and Phillies over the last five years. The 29-year-old right-hander will reportedly earn $1M this year from the Tigers.

Jon Duplantier, Hanshin Tigers

The former Diamondbacks prospect has struggled with injuries and inconsistency throughout his career. Duplantier has thrown 49.2 IP with a 6.70 ERA (66 ERA+), making appearances in the majors in 2019 and 2021. He split 2024 between the Mets and Dodgers Triple-A affiliates, with a stint in the independent American Association in between.

Ramon Hernandez, Hanshin Tigers

A former international amateur free agent signing by Arizona, Hernandez reached as high as Double-A, hitting a combined .266/.315/.425 in almost 2,000 PA over six years, before the D’backs released him after the 2019 season. He’s spent the last five years playing in Mexico where he’s slashed .307/.374/.507.

Edward Olivares, Orix Buffaloes

Over five seasons with the Padres, Royals, and Pirates the soon-to-be 29-year-old outfielder is a .254/.306/.407 hitter who hit a career-high 12 homers for Kansas City in 2023. He had signed a minor league deal with the Mets in December before they released him to pursue the opportunity in Japan.

Domingo Acevedo, Orix Buffaloes

The former Yankees prospect pitched 88 innings between 2021-23 with the Athletics, posting a 4.09 ERA (94 ERA+) in 89 appearances out of the bullpen. The Athletics released him in August 2023. He would spend 2024 pitching with two teams in the Mexican League, before a stint in the Dominican Winter League.

Kyle Muller, Chunichi Dragons

The former Braves prospect has thrown 175.1 innings over the last four years with Atlanta and the Athletics, registering a 5.90 ERA (71 ERA+) with 141 strikeouts and 77 walks.

Jason Vosler, Chunichi Dragons

Chunichi’s big offensive addition this offseason was signing Vosler, who was coming off a .303/.371/.573 season with Seatle’s Triple-A Tacoma with a career-high 31 home runs and 110 RBI. Despite a strong track record over his ten seasons in the minors, The corner infielder has struggled in 288 PA in the majors with the Giants, Reds, and Mariners to a .207/.274/.395 line.

Nash Walters, Chunichi Dragons

Walters has a 4.72 ERA over 299.1 IP during his minor league career dating back to 2015. He spent the 2024 season split between Washington’s Double-A and Triple-A affiliates, posting a combined 2.43 ERA over 33.1 IP. Walters worked out at Driveline’s academy and caught the attention of NPB scouts during their pro day.

Bryan Sammons, Chiba Lotte Marines

The left-handed Sammons has thrown 623.2 IP in the minors over the last seven seasons, with a 4.42 ERA and 1.340 WHIP. He made his MLB debut this past season with Detroit, registering a 3.62 ERA over 27.1 IP.

Mike Baumann, Tokyo Yakult Swallows

Baumann pitched for five teams in 2024 (traded thrice, claimed on waivers once) after spending the first three years of his career in Baltimore. The 29-year-old has registered a 4.95 ERA (83 ERA+) over 167.1 IP.

Peter Lambert, Tokyo Yakult Swallows

The 27-year-old Lambert spent the last five seasons with Colorado, posting a 6.28 ERA (79 ERA+) over 243.2 IP. Sure, pitching your home games at Coors Field is going to inflate your numbers some, but Lambert has allowed 45 home runs over his career (1.7 HR/9), and the lack of a true secondary pitch to complement his strong changeup has hurt him.

Elehuris Montero, Hiroshima Carp

The 26-year-old corner infielder struggled over parts of three seasons in Colorado, slashing .228/.277/.387 over 739 PA with 21 homers and 277 strikeouts. Montero’s track record in the minors (a .284/.359/.483 line with 106 HR over nine seasons) is far more impressive, but he’s still something of a free-swinger who may struggle to adjust to the breaking-ball-heavy NPB.

Sandro Fabian, Hiroshima Carp

Fabian is a unique case. Most foreign players who head overseas do so on one-year deals; essentially a “prove it” model before teams commit long-term. Hiroshima bought Fabian out of his contract with the Rangers and gave him a three-year deal worth $5M. Fabian went 0-for-5 in five MLB plate appearances last September but is a .265/.318/.437 hitter over his eight seasons in the minors.

Johan Dominguez, Hiroshima Carp

Dominguez has yet to reach the majors, but the 29-year-old right-hander has had stints at Triple-A in each of the last four seasons. He missed most of 2023 while recovering from Tommy John surgery, but returned to throw 118.2 IP in 2024 with a 4.25 ERA and 1.407 WHIP.

Trey Cabbage, Yomiuri Giants

Cabbage holds a .209/.245/.331 line over 147 PA with the Angels and Astros the last two seasons. The 27-year-old outfielder has been more consistent in his nine years in the minors, batting .259/.338/.473 with 109 homers.

New to KBO

Zach Logue, Doosan Bears

The 28-year-old left-hander has made appearances for the Athletics, Tigers, and Dodgers over the last three seasons, posting a 7.20 ERA (54 ERA+) over 70 IP with 56 strikeouts. He made a pair of appearances for the Dodgers last September, meaning there’s a World Series ring coming his way.

Cole Irvin, Doosan Bears

Irvin has pitched for the Phillies, Athletics, Orioles, and Twins over the last six seasons, registering a 4.54 ERA (87 ERA+) over 593.0 IP but he’s never struck out many batters (6.6 K/9). His minor league track record is stronger (3.19 ERA and 1.166 WHIP over 513 IP).

Jake Cave, Doosan Bears

The 32-year-old outfielder has spent parts of seven seasons in the majors with the Twins, Phillies, and Rockies hitting a combined .236/.292/.400 over more than 1,500 PA. He saw career-highs in games played, hits, and steals last season with Colorado.

Patrick Wisdom, KT Wiz

Wisdom’s emergence for the Cubs in 2021 eased the club’s burden when they started trading off pieces from their championship roster (namely Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo, Wisdom saw playing time filling in for both of them). Even with that season’s numbers, the 32-year-old is just a .209/.291/.459 hitter over seven seasons in the majors, with 540 strikeouts in his nearly 1,500 PA.

Adam Oller, KT Wiz

Oller has made 36 appearances (23 starts) over the last three seasons with the Athletics and Marlins, posting a 6.54 ERA (62 ERA+) over 136.1 IP. The 30-year-old right-hander was originally a 20th-round pick by Pittsburgh in 2016.

Yonny Chirinos, LG Twins

Tampa Bay looked like they had a nice weapon on their pitching staff early in Chirinos’s career, being used mainly as a swingman with great results over the first two seasons. Tommy John surgery wiped out his 2021 season and the right-hander has struggled to replicate the success since while bouncing between the Rays, Braves, and Marlins. He registered a 4.22 ERA (102 ERA+) over 356.1 IP with 283 strikeouts and 98 walks.

Mitch White, SSG Landers

The 30-year-old White made 71 appearances over the last five seasons with the Dodgers, Blue Jays, Giants, and Brewers. He posted a 5.25 ERA (78 ERA+) over 185.0 IP.

Tucker Davidson, Lotte Giants

Davidson has thrown 129.2 IP over the last five seasons with the Braves, Angels, Royals, and Orioles, posting a 5.76 ERA (75 ERA+) and 1.604 WHIP. The 28-year-old left-hander never really put up dominant numbers in his minor league career.

Estevan Florial, Hanwha Eagles

Once a heralded Yankees prospect, Florial never was able to put things together at the plate in the majors and take advantage of the opportunities given to him. Over parts of five seasons with the Yankees and Guardians, Florial is a .192/.291/.329 hitter over 245 PA.

Logan Allen, NC Dinos

Not to be mistaken with his namesake who projects to have a spot in the Guardians rotation, Allen has a spotty track record over parts of five seasons in the majors. He posted a 5.79 ERA (74 ERA+) over 124.1 IP with the Padres, Guardians, Orioles, and Diamondbacks.

Kenny Rosenberg, Kiwoom Heroes

The 29-year-old left-hander spent the last three seasons making appearances out of the Angels bullpen, posting a 4.66 ERA (93 ERA+) with 54 strikeouts and 28 walks in 67.2 IP.

Returning overseas

Naoyuki Uwasawa, Fukuoka Softbank Hawks

Uwasawa had a unique trip through the NPB/MLB posting system. Interest was limited in the soft-tossing right-hander last offseason and he ultimately settled for a non-guaranteed minor league deal with the Rays. It became evident early in spring training that he wasn’t going to make Tampa Bay’s roster out of camp and the club sold his rights to Boston in late March.

Uwasawa spent most of the season at Triple-A Worcester (posting a 7.63 ERA and 1.780 WHIP over 59 IP) but did make two appearances for the Red Sox, allowing a run on two hits over four innings. Boston released him in October. Uwasawa reportedly received a four-year deal from the Hawks after likely seeing little interest from MLB clubs.

Trevor Bauer, Yokohama DeNA Baystars

Bauer pitched for the Baystars in 2023 before spending the 2024 season in Mexico with the Diablos Rojos del Mexico. Yokohama is bringing him back for another season. Given it’s Bauer, we’ll leave it at that for now.