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NPB: 20 can’t miss former MLB players in Japan

By Nick Stevens

BALTIMORE, MD - SEPTEMBER 11: Adam Jones #10 of the Baltimore Orioles bats against the Oakland Athletics at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 11, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - SEPTEMBER 11: Adam Jones #10 of the Baltimore Orioles bats against the Oakland Athletics at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 11, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) /
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Remember Kosuke Fukudome? He’s one of those former MLB players still playing in the NPB.

OF Leonys Martin- Chiba Lotte Marines

Most baseball fans are very familiar with Martin after a nine-year MLB career and stints with five different organizations from 2011-2019. The majority of Martin’s career was spent with the Texas Rangers where he hit .255 with 20 home runs and was worth 8.8 bWAR. Martin was released by the Cleveland Indians halfway through the 2019 season, finishing the year in the NPB where he re-signed for another year. At just 32, Martin could be a major addition to a Chiba Lotte team looking to get above .500 this. year after finishing last year with a 69-70-4 record.

3B Christian Villanueva-Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters

After nine years of minor league baseball, Villanueva finally reached the big leagues in 2018 as a member of the San Diego Padres. In 12 games, Villanueva showcased his big power at the plate with four home runs and became a serious candidate to start 2018 in the Padres starting lineup. After wrestling away the starting third base job from Chase Headley, Villanueva hit 20 home runs in 2018 but hit just .239 with a .299 OBP after a torrid start to the season.

The Padres released Villanueva later that offseason as he took his talents to Japan. He struggled in his NPB rookie season, but with a year under his belt to settle in, Villanueva could power his way through a successful 2020.

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OF Steven Moya-Orix Buffaloes

Once an MLB Pipeline Top 100 prospect, Steven Moya wasn’t able to put it all together in the big leagues, but will now team up with Adam Jones to form an exciting duo for the Orix Buffaloes. Moya hit 35 home runs with 33 doubles back in 2014 while in Double-A with the Detroit Tigers, hitting a combined 138 home runs in the minor leagues.

OF Kosuke Fukudome- Hanshin Tigers

Chicago Cubs fans remember Fukudome well after spending three-plus successful seasons at Wrigley Field. Fukudome joined the Cubs in 2008, an All-Star season for the rookie who slashed .257/.359/.379 with 38 extra-base hits. He was even better in his sophomore season, hitting .259 with 54 extra-base hits and drawing 93 walks. Fukudome struggled after being traded to the Cleveland Indians and eventually found his way back to Japan where the 43-year-old is still a reliable bat in the lineup.

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