After three seasons with the SoftBank Hawks, Arihara became a free agent on December 2. Reports emerged in late November that the right-winger was considering coming to the United States. Instead, he returns to the team he made his debut with in 2018. Arihara’s solid results with the club from 2018 to 2020 earned him major class exposure with the Rangers. After two injury-plagued MLB seasons, Arihara returned to the NPB in 2023. He posted three strong years with the Hawks, including a 2.36 ERA over 26 starts in 2024.
It’s unclear if Arihara attracted interest at the MLB level. The idea of him leaving the NPB may have been a negotiating tactic, and it appears to have worked. As Karasawa notes, the AAV of Arihara’s contract is approaching $4 million, a big number according to NPB standards.
Arihara’s stint in the MLB was ruined by a serious shoulder injury. After a handful of decent performances to open his career, the right-hander was slowed by an arm problem that eventually culminated in an aneurysm in his throwing shoulder. Surgery knocked him out until the final month of the 2021 season. When he returned to the mound, he gave up nine earned runs in twelve innings. Arihara was a backup with the Rangers the following year, but posted a 9.45 ERA over 20 innings. He was designated for assignment in September 2022 and entered free agency at the end of the season.
Photo courtesy of Jim Cowsert, Imagn Images
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