Tag Archives: Andrew Albers

The kotatsu league: Orix signs Padres minor leaguers Higgins, Rodriguez

Former San Diego Padres minor leaguers Tyler Higgins and Aderlin Rodriguez have signed with the Orix Buffaloes of Japan’s Pacific League, the club announced Monday according to online site fullcount.

HIggins, who began his career with the Miami Marlins, is a 28-year-old right-hander who has spent most of his career at Double-A. At Triple-A El Paso last year, where former Japan closer Akinori Otsuka served as a pitching coach, Higgins struck out 50 batters in 45-2/3 innings while issuing 13 walks and surrendering 13 home runs.

Rodriguez, who is from the Dominican Republic and turned 28 in November, is a right-handed hitter who hit 19 home runs in 289 plate appearances for El Paso while striking out 46 times and drawing 14 walks. It was his lone season in Triple-A.

The Buffaloes have also acquired veteran major league outfielder Adam Jones on a two-year deal, and are bringing back outfielder-first baseman Steven Moya, starting pitcher Andrew Albers and closer Brandon Dickson.

Lotte signs Dominican amateur Acosta: report

The Lotte Marines have signed hard-throwing Dominican amateur Jose Acosta to a developmental contract, the Hochi Shimbun reported Monday, citing informed sources.

According to the report, the acquisition of 25-year-old Acosta, who has no pro experience, and 30-year-old Venezuelan Jose Flores, who pitched this year for the Toyama Thunderbirds of the independent BC League, will be announced in the coming days.

Acosta, a 1.87-meter, 89-kilogram right-hander, pitched for his country in this summer’s Pan Am Games. His fastball has been recorded at 164 kilometers per hour. He also possesses an effective slider and change.

At a tryout in the Dominican, his average fastball velocity was 157 kph.

The 1.91-meter, 120-kg Flores, who throws in the 150-159 kph range, tried out for the club in October at the Pacific League club’s home park, Zozo Marine Stadium, in Chiba. He is also headed for a developmental contract, that does not count against the team’s 70-man roster and does not allow him to play on the top team.

The kotatsu league: Hawks staying busy

The SoftBank Hawks are poised to acquire 30-year-old lefty Matt Moore, the Nikkan Sports reported Friday citing a source. Moore posted 10-plus wins in three different seasons. He had surgery on his pitching elbow in 2018 but came back to pitch two games this past season with the Detroit Tiger when he showed no noticeable drop in velocity. Moore spent most of his career with the Tampa Bay Rays before playing for the San Francisco Giants, Texas Rangers and Tigers.

The Hawks this week also welcomed former catcher Kenji Jojima, who will take up a role in the front office. Jojima, who I have ranked as the fifth most valuable catcher in NPB history and the 50th best player overall, left the Hawks after the 2005 season for the majors. He returned to Japan with the Central League’s Hanshin Tigers and played three more years until 2012.

Tigers announce Sands signing

The Hanshin Tigers on Friday introduced Jerry Sands, the 32-year-old outfielder who led the KBO in RBIs this year. His one-year deal is reportedly worth $1.1 million. In comments released by the Tigers (in Japanese only) Sands said his former minor league teammate, Pierce Johnson, who starred in relief this year for the Tigers, spoke highly of the organization.

Dickson, Albers and Moya back with Orix for 2020

The Pacific League’s Orix Buffaloes announced they had concluded 2020 contracts with three foreign holdovers from 2019, pitchers Brandon Dickson and Andrew Albers, and outfielder-first baseman Steven Moya. Dickson , who joined Orix in 2013, moved last season from the starting rotation to the bullpen, where he proved effective as the closer for the Buffaloes, and during the Premier 12 for the United States. Moya arrived last season from the CL’s Chunichi Dragons.

Their English NPB player pages are HERE: