Reporter Kim Hee-joon = Pitcher Arihara Kohei (31), who ate rice with Hyeon-jong Yang (KIA Tigers) in the Texas Rangers of the Major League (MLB), returns to the Japanese stage.

Japan’s Sports Hochi reported on the 6th that Arihara, who left Round Rock Express, a Triple-A team affiliated with Texas, and became a free agent, agreed to a contract with the Softbank Hawks.

As a result, Arihara returned to Japan after experiencing the bitter taste of two seasons in the United States.

Arihara, who started his professional career by joining the Nippon Ham Fighters in 2015, appeared in 129 games during his six seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball, recording 60-50 with an ERA of 3.74.

He was named Pacific League Rookie of the Year in 2015 and helped Nippon Ham win the Japan Series in 2016.

After finishing the 2020 season, Arihara signed a two-year, $6.2 million contract with Texas through the posting system and headed to the United States.

Although he was given a starting position in his first season, Arihara was absent for a long time after undergoing shoulder surgery in May 2021, only returning in September. In 10 games that year, he only had 2 wins and 4 losses with an ERA of 6.64. 메이저놀이터

Arihara did not live up to expectations at all the following year.

Arihara, who spent the season in the minor leagues, was promoted to the big leagues in August of last year, but only had an ERA of 9.45 with 1 win and 3 losses in 5 games. In the last appearance of the 2022 season against the Toronto Blue Jays, he was battered with 12 hits (2 homers) and 11 runs in 3 innings.

Arihara, who had a poor record of 7.57 ERA in 15 games in two seasons in MLB, had to turn her eyes to Japan again.

As a top player on the Japanese stage, Arihara received attention from multiple clubs, including Softbank and Hanshin Tigers. The winner of the recruitment match was Softbank.

Softbank, which sent Senga Kodai, who played an active role as an ace until last year, to the MLB New York Mets, expects Arihara to fill the void as a new ace.