Another overseas baseball organization has officially embarked on their 2020 season. Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) has now joined the Korean Baseball Organization (KBO) in returning to play, celebrating their Opening Day earlier today.
The NPB is the highest level of baseball in Japan, and has 12 total teams split across two leagues – the Pacific League and the Central League. Earlier Friday morning, a total of six games were played, three in each league. Like the KBO, which features Tyler Saladino and Odrisamer Despaigne, the NPB has a few other old friends who are still kicking it across the pond. Here they are…
Dayan Viciedo, 1B, Chunichi Dragons
White Sox (2010-2014, 483 games): 66 HR, 211 RBI, .231 AVG, .281 OBP, .405 SLG, 1.1 WAR
Arguably the most memorable name on this list, “The Tank” is in his fourth season with the NPB. While he never turned into the player many hoped he would on the South Side, Viciedo has since slashed .303/.372/.502 with 84 home runs, and 309 RBI with the Chunichi Dragons.
In today’s Opening Day game, he added to his home run total by flashing the power we all loved. He finished 3-for-5 with 2 RBI, and a walk.
Jose Lopez, 1B, Yokohama DeNA BayStars
White Sox (2012, 15 games): 5-for-23, .217 AVG, .250 OBP, .261 SLG, .511 OPS
Blinked and you probably missed Lopez in Chicago. The long-time Mariner wound up in the organization on a minor league contract at the tail end of his career. He made his Sox debut on September 3, 2012 and finished out the season with the club, serving primarily as a pinch-runner and third-baseman, while also seeing a few appearances at first.
The following season, Lopez signed with the Yomiuri Giants and has played for the Yokohama DeNA Baystars since 2014. Soon to be 37 years old, Lopez is going on his eighth season in the NPB with a career .276/.317/.451 line.
Kosuke Fukudome, OF, Hanshin Tigers
White Sox (2012, 41 games): 7-for-41, 2B, 4 RBI, .171 AVG, .294 OBP, .195 SLG, .489 OPS
Known in Chicago for his four years with the Cubs, Fukudome also had a brief stint with the White Sox. The team signed him to a one-year, $1 million contract prior to 2012 but was soon designated for assignment after a dismal 41 at-bats. It was the last action he would see in the Major Leagues before joining the Hanshin Tigers.
Believe it or not, Fukudome is now 43 years old and in his 16th professional season with the NPB. He made headlines last season after this awesome walk-off bomb and bat flip.
Jerry Sands, OF Hanshin Tigers
White Sox (2016, 24 games): 13-for-55, 1 HR, 7 RBI, .236 AVG, .276 OBP, .291 SLG, .567 OPS
Sands found his way in Chicago after being claimed off waivers on December 23, 2015. He would occasionally serve as a designated hitter, as well as a first-baseman and left-fielder. I really can’t remember much from his time on the team so that probably says it all.
Sands made his NPB last season with the Nexen Heroes, later renamed the Kiwoom Heros. He has since joined the Hanshin Tigers for 2020.
Moises Sierra, OF, Chunichi Dragons
White Sox (2014, 83 Games): 8 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 7 RBI, .276 AVG, .311 OBP, .417 SLG
On the same Japanese team as Vicideo, Sierra also patrolled the outfields at Sox Park during the 2014 season. He was originally claimed off by waivers by the White Sox on May 3rd and was decent enough before heading to the disabled list with a season-ending oblique strain in August. That would be the last we saw of Sierra as he was claimed by the Royals and bounced around a bit before signing a deal with the Dragons for the 2020 season.
Thyago Vieira, RHP, Yomiuri Giants
White Sox (2018-19, 22 games): 2-1 record, 24.2 IP, 23 K, 14 BB, 7.66 ERA, 1.865 WHIP, 5.49 FIP
The last guy on this list is also the one who played most recently for the Sox. Acquired from the Mariners on November 16, 2017 for international bonus pool money, Vieira showed potential with a triple-digit fastball. The reclamation project never really amounted to anything as the reliever’s lack of command led to some pretty brutal outings over the past two years. Vieira demanded his release back in December and is now with Yomiuri.
For more on the Nippon Professional Baseball action, visit their website here.
Featured Photo: White Sox/Twitter