Japan’s Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters announced yesterday that they will make a proper comeback Drew VerHagen on a one-year contract. The Vayner Sports client first joined the Fighters on a one-year contract with a player option until 2025 last winter. Although it seems that he explored the possibilities of a free agent instead of a player option, he chose to return to Hokkaido anyway.
VerHagen split the ’24 season between the Fighters and their minor league team. He posted similar solid numbers at both stops. The 34-year-old pitched 49 innings of 3.12 ERA ball at the top level in Japan and managed a 3.06 ERA in 47 minor league frames. He supported NPB opponents by a little over 20.6% against a 5% walking average.
That was VerHagen’s third season with the Fighters overall. He played for the team during 2020-21 and now has a 3.44 earned run average in 256 2/3 innings for NPB. At different times in Japan, he appeared in parts of eight MLB campaigns. VerHagen served as a long-time reliever for the Tigers from 2014-19. He returned to the majors in 2022 for two seasons with the Cardinals. After posting a 6.65 ERA during his first year at St. Louis, he also had a 3.98 ERA in 61 innings pitched in 2023.
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