Two ex-NPB players found new homes this past week. Former Tigers pitcher Shintaro Fujinami, who split last season between Oakland and Baltimore, has signed with the Mets where he will be reunited with Kodai Senga, his teammate on the 2017 WBC Samurai Japan team.
Additionally, former Fighters and Giants outfielder Yoh Daikan has signed with the Oisix Niigata Albirex Baseball Club, the new entry in the Eastern League, one of NPB's two farm team leagues. Niigata is not affiliated with any NPB team - they had previously played in the independent Baseball Challenge League since 2007. Yoh is no stranger to indy ball as he spent the last two summers playing indy ball in the US with the Lake Country Dock Hounds of the American Association in 2022 and the High Point Rockers of the Atlantic League in 2023 (with a stop in Brisbane in between). This will be the first time he's played in Japan since he left the Giants after the 2021 season. (Since he's originally from Taiwan, I'm surprised he doesn't try to play in the CPBL although he might have to go through their draft to be able to play in the league.)
Here's team issued cards for both players:
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| 2015 Tigers Original Player Card #03 |
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| 2015 Fighters Playing Cards |
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