The Hanshin Tigers of the Nippon Professional League are close to signing former MLB players Jeremy Beasley and Sheldon Neuse, as well as former big league prospects Brian Keller and Johan Mieses, according to Yahoo Japan. Meanwhile, the Tigers have renewed former Tiger, Angel and Pirate Kyle Keller’s contract for around $1.5MM, and the deal contains an additional $300K in possible incentives.
Beasley, 27 tomorrow, was recently released by the Pirates, but last pitched in the majors for the Blue Jays. He had a 4.80 ERA in nine relief appearances spanning 15 innings, and owns a career 5.84 ERA across 24 2/3 innings for the Blue Jays and Diamondbacks in the past three seasons. He’s shown the ability to punch out major league hitters, striking out batters at a 29% clip, although that comes with a 12.3% walk rate.
Neuse was a second round pick for the Nationals back in 2016, but made his way to Oakland in the Sean Doolittle deal a year later. Across three seasons with the Athletics and Dodgers, Neuse owns a .212/.262/.296 batting line with seven home runs in 420 plate appearances. He’s primarily spent time at second and third base, but has also logged time at first base, shortstop and both corner outfield positions.
Brian Keller was drafted in the 39th round of the 2016 draft by the Yankees, and made it as high as Triple-A with them. He was claimed off waivers ahead of the past season by the Red Sox, and spent the last year at their Triple-A affiliate. There, Keller pitched 113 innings of 3.27 ERA ball, making 20 starts and 11 relief appearances. He struck out a little over a quarter of the batters he faced, but walked batters just over ten percent of the time.
Mieses, 27, has bounced around the minor leagues a bit, spending time with the Dodgers and Cardinals before joining the Red Sox in 2021. The outfielder spent the past year at Triple-A, slashing an impressive .271/.387/.537 with 12 home runs across 60 games. All of those appearances came in right field or as the DH, although he has appeared at the other two outfield spots in previous seasons.
Kyle Keller, 29, spent the past season with Hanshin after being released by the Pirates at the end of the 2021 season. He turned in a 2.72 ERA in 49 2/3 innings with 64 strikeouts and just 12 walks. He struggled during his time in the big leagues, pitching to a 5.83 ERA across 46 1/3 innings for the Marlins, Angels and Pirates, but he seems to have found success in Japan so it’s not surprising to see him stick around for another season.
Note: A prior version of this post incorrectly stated Keller’s salary as approximately $1.3MM. MLBTR regrets the error.
This is MLBtraderumors.. unless they are coming to the MLB from Japan.. this is not the platform .. start a Japanbaseballtraderumors site
How about you quit whining since you don’t subscribe?
Haven’t seen you on here in a while Sid. Hope all is well.
@Henry personally I like these kind of articles. And I am a paid subscriber.
Lol come on man, that’s a little harsh
Henry
They are letting us know which players are not options in MLB and minors next year. So, you are not only trolling, but also wrong.
I personally was happy to know that Sheldon Neuse got a job . You must be one of those Turd voters that doesn’t want inclusion. OMG how dare you talk about the Japanese league .
No idea why the Pirates got Beasley but good luck to him.
Neuse is sort of the anti-Muncy/Taylor/Turner. They couldn’t fix him.
Altuve’s Buzzer, I had to re read your comment before I understood it…I was starting to get heated until I realized you were complimenting those guys haha
The ship has sailed.
Any information about other NPB teams? Yakult Swallows definitely will try to retain Scott Mcgough, AJ Cole and Cy Sneed. Domingo Santana probably too, but he obly played 60gms this year because injury, Jose Osuna is a big question because he didnt provide the power the Yakult wants from their foreign hitter. And Patrick Kivlehan only played 29gms
Niel – Osuna was the best player on the Swallows in the playoffs. He is also in year 2 of a 3-year deal… pretty sure the last I read was that they had re-signed McGough, Sneed, and Santana. Not sure if they are keeping Cole, but pretty sure Kivlehan is gone.
Kivlehan signed with the White Sox I think? I could be wrong.
Good for these guys and getting to make some $$ and continue to refine their craft while playing the game they love.
Few of them find their way back! Hopefully Sheldon can do that with his talent!
I agree. Sheldon seemed like humble guy too.
Though crowd.. i didn’t even know there was a subscription option.. and I’ve been here for years. MAY I ask what are the benefits?
No ads, reader mailbag, early chat questions and a few other things. It’s 30 a year.
You can just venmo me $30 and I will throw it in the toilet for you, if you’re that lazy.
Exclusive Articles as well
You don’t see many players from the DR signing to play in Nippon or KBO.
Actually, there has been a lot more recently as many NPB teams are taking players from the DR like Geronimo Franzua and having them develop in their minor league.
There are loads actually
I appreciate this content.
1.3 mil for a Japanese league reliever! Dang!
His control markedly improved and he had a terrific strikeout rate. Easily worth $1.3 million and if he does well again in 2023 he could come back to MLB.
Johan is a amazing person and I hope for the best, Saw him in Springfield when with the Cardinals and he followed me back on IG
Does anyone else remember when AsfaninUK made a comment early last season that Sheldon Neuse was about to breakout and be the next Max Muncy?
Pepperidge Farm remembers.
Haha I definitely do!
Neuse is loose.