Right-hander Anderson Espinoza has re-signed with the Orix Buffaloes of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) on a two-year, $6 million contract, marking a rewarding turn in the 26-year-old’s career after an impressive debut season in Japan. Espinoza, who initially joined the Buffaloes in January, posted a stellar 2.63 ERA over 133 2/3 innings across 22 starts in the 2024 season, revitalizing his professional trajectory after years of injury setbacks and inconsistent performance in the U.S.
Espinoza’s journey has been marked by both early promise and considerable hardship. Signed by the Boston Red Sox as a top international prospect in 2015, he quickly ascended the minor league ranks and was traded to the San Diego Padres in 2016. However, multiple Tommy John surgeries and the cancellation of the 2020 minor league season kept him off the mound until 2021. He briefly appeared in the majors with the Chicago Cubs in 2022, but struggled with a 5.40 ERA over 18 1/3 innings in relief and was subsequently released.
After a challenging 2023 season back in the Padres’ Triple-A system, where he posted a 6.15 ERA, Espinoza took a chance with the Buffaloes in Japan. The move proved transformative as he thrived in NPB, reducing his walk rate to 8.7% and averaging over six innings per start, even though his 20.5% strikeout rate was modest. His dominant performance with the Buffaloes drew interest from MLB teams, but Espinoza chose the security and financial stability of a two-year contract in Japan.
For Espinoza, this deal provides both career stability and a potential springboard to an MLB return. If he continues his success in Japan, he may follow in the footsteps of other former MLB players like Miles Mikolas, who rebuilt their careers overseas before returning stateside.
Sources for this article include: Swing Completo, Yakyu Cosmopolitan, and official statements from the Orix Buffaloes.
