ARLINGTON, Texas — Texas Rangers aren’t shy about signing natives of Japan, they’ve recently signed 28-year-old right-hand pitcher Kohei Arihara out of Nippon professional baseball pacific league in Japan to a two-year contract.
“The addition of Kohei Arihara strengthens the depth in our starting rotation,” Rangers president of baseball operations Jon Daniels said. “He has had success in Japan over the last six years with a breakout season in 2019.
Arihara will be the eighth native of Japan to play regular-season games for the Rangers. He was a 2015, pacific league rookie of the year, in 2019 Arihara tied for the overall lead in Japan with his career-high 15 wins, and was second in ERA at 2.46 in 24 starts.
Arihara’s statement to the team and the public: “I will continue to work hard for me to grow and succeed in this city, To lead into this, I will make sure to have a good offseason so that I can head into spring training in top condition.”
