List of current foreign Nippon Professional Baseball players

In Nippon Professional Baseball, players born outside of Japan are often known as international players. This list includes all international players who are currently on NPB 70-man rosters and thus eligible to play in Nippon Professional Baseball or either of the two "ni-gun" leagues, the Western League and the Eastern League. As both the Central League and Pacific League have a limit on foreign players on the 28-man first team (ichi-gun) rosters (maximum of four foreign players which must be a mix of pitchers and position players), there are currently just sixty-nine active players on NPB 70-man rosters. This list does include foreign-born players who qualify as Japanese through residency, such as Yaku Cho and Wladimir Balentien, but does not include Japanese-born players who are eligible for other national teams, such as Yuma Mune and Brandon Tysinger.[1]

List is accurate as of March 1, 2023 (Registered for 2023 season):

Pos P Pitcher IF Infielder OF Outfielder
Denotes Central League players
Denotes Pacific League players
BOLD Denotes players with at least one appearance in an international tournament
Nationality Birthplace (if different) Player Team Pos. Career Last non-NPB Team
 Brazil — Thyago Vieira [2] Yomiuri Giants P 2020– (YOM) United States Chicago White Sox
 Cuba — Rusney Castillo [3] Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles OF 2021– (RAK) United States Boston Red Sox
 Cuba — Alfredo Despaigne [4] Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks OF 2014–2016 (LOT)
2017– (SOF) 		Cuba Granma
 Cuba — Yurisbel Gracial [4] Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks IF 2018– (SOF) Canada Les Capitales de Québec
 Cuba — Leonys Martín [5] Chiba Lotte Marines OF 2019– (LOT) United States Cleveland Indians
 Cuba — Liván Moinelo [4] Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks P 2017– (SOF) Cuba Holguín
 Cuba — Yariel Rodríguez [6] Chunichi Dragons P 2020– (CHU) Cuba Camagüey
 Cuba — Dayán Viciedo [6] Chunichi Dragons IF/OF 2016– (CHU) United States Chicago White Sox
 Dominican Republic — Raúl Alcántara [7] Hanshin Tigers P 2021– (HAN) South Korea Doosan Bears
 Dominican Republic — Rubby De La Rosa [2] Yomiuri Giants P 2019– (YOM) United States Arizona Diamondbacks
 Dominican Republic — Geronimo Franzua [8] Hiroshima Toyo Carp P 2018– (HIR) Dominican Republic Carp Academy
 Dominican Republic — Jefry Marté [7] Hanshin Tigers IF 2019– (HAN) United States Los Angeles Angels
 Dominican Republic — Alejandro Mejía [8] Hiroshima Toyo Carp IF 2017– (HIR) Dominican Republic Carp Academy
 Dominican Republic — Cristopher Mercedes [2] Yomiuri Giants P 2018– (YOM) United States Tampa Bay Rays
 Dominican Republic  Puerto Rico Steven Moya [9] ORIX Buffaloes OF 2018–2019 (CHU)
2019– (ORI) 		United States Detroit Tigers
 Dominican Republic — Bryan Rodriguez [10] Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters P 2018– (NIP) United States San Diego Padres
 Dominican Republic — Ronny Rodríguez [10] Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters IF 2021– (NIP) United States Detroit Tigers
 Dominican Republic  United States Mel Rojas Jr. [7] Hanshin Tigers OF 2021– (HAN) South Korea KT Wiz
 Dominican Republic — Fernando Romero [11] Yokohama DeNA Baystars P 2021– (DeN) United States Minnesota Twins
 Dominican Republic — Randy Rosario [6] Chunichi Dragons P 2021– (CHU) United States Kansas City Royals
 Dominican Republic — Ángel Sánchez [2] Yomiuri Giants P 2020– (YOM) South Korea SK Wyverns
 Italy  United States Zach Neal [12] Saitama Seibu Lions P 2019– (SEI) United States Los Angeles Dodgers
 Lithuania — Dovydas Neverauskas [8] Hiroshima Toyo Carp P 2021– (HIR) United States Pittsburgh Pirates
 Mexico  United States Brandon Laird [5] Chiba Lotte Marines IF 2015–2018 (NIP)
2019– (LOT) 		United States Washington Nationals
 Netherlands  Curaçao Wladimir Balentien [4] Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks OF 2011–2019 (YAK)
2020– (SOF) 		United States Cincinnati Reds
 Netherlands — Rick van den Hurk[13] Tokyo Yakult Swallows P 2015–2020 (SOF)
2021– (YAK) 		South Korea Samsung Lions
 Puerto Rico — Neftalí Soto [11] Yokohama DeNA Baystars IF 2018– (DeN) United States Washington Nationals
 South Africa — Tayler Scott [8] Hiroshima Toyo Carp P 2020– (HIR) United States Baltimore Orioles
 Taiwan — Chen Wei-Yin [7] Hanshin Tigers P 2004–2011 (CHU)
2020– (HAN) 		United States Miami Marlins
 Taiwan — Yaku Cho [9] ORIX Buffaloes P 2019– (ORI) Japan Nikkeidai
 Taiwan — Sung Chia-hao [3] Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles P 2017– (RAK) Taiwan NTUS
 Taiwan — Wang Po-jung [10] Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters OF 2019– (NIP) Taiwan Rakuten Monkeys
 Taiwan — Wu Nien-Ting [12] Saitama Seibu Lions IF 2016– (SEI) Japan Daiichi Institute of Technology
 United States — Tyler Austin [11] Yokohama DeNA Baystars IF 2020– (DeN) United States Milwaukee Brewers
 United States — Kyle Bird [8] Hiroshima Toyo Carp P 2021– (HIR) United States Texas Rangers
 United States — Alan Busenitz [3] Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles P 2019– (RAK) United States Minnesota Twins
 United States — Adam Conley [3] Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles P 2021– (RAK) United States Miami Marlins
 United States — Kevin Cron [8] Hiroshima Toyo Carp IF 2021– (HIR) United States Arizona Diamondbacks
 United States — Brandon Dickson [9] ORIX Buffaloes P 2013– (ORI) United States St. Louis Cardinals
 United States — Brandon Dixon [3] Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles P 2021– (RAK) United States Detroit Tigers
 United States — Jon Edwards [7] Hanshin Tigers P 2020– (HAN) United States Cleveland Indians
 United States — Robbie Erlin [10] Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters P 2021– (NIP) United States Atlanta Braves
 United States — Reed Garrett [9] Saitama Seibu Lions P 2020– (SEI) United States Texas Rangers
 United States — Mike Gerber [6] Chunichi Dragons OF 2021– (CHU) United States San Francisco Giants
 United States — Joe Gunkel [7] Hanshin Tigers P 2020– (HAN) United States Miami Marlins
 United States — Frank Herrmann [5] Chiba Lotte Marines P 2017–2019 (RAK)
2020– (LOT) 		United States Philadelphia Phillies
 United States — Jacob Waguespack [9] ORIX Buffaloes P 2020– (ORI) United States Toronto Blue Jays
 United States — Nick Martinez [4] Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks P 2018–2020 (NIP)
2021– (SOF) 		United States Texas Rangers
 United States — Cy Sneed [13] Tokyo Yakult Swallows P 2019– (YAK) United States Houston Astros
 United States — Matt Dermody [12] Saitama Seibu Lions P 2021– (SEI) United States Chicago Cubs
 United States — Michael Peoples [11] Yokohama DeNA Baystars P 2020– (DeN) United States Colorado Rockies
 United States — Colin Rea [4] Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks P 2021– (SOF) United States Chicago Cubs
 United States — Stefen Romero [9] ORIX Buffaloes OF 2017–2019, 2021– (ORI)
2020 (RAK) 		United States Seattle Mariners
 United States — Jerry Sands [7] Hanshin Tigers OF 2020– (HAN) South Korea Kiwoom Heroes
 United States — Dennis Sarfate [4] Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks P 2011–2012 (HIR)
2013 (SEI)
2014– (SOF) 		United States Baltimore Orioles
 United States — Justin Smoak [2] Yomiuri Giants IF 2021– (YOM) United States San Francisco Giants
 United States — Cy Sneed [13] Tokyo Yakult Swallows P 2021– (YAK) United States Houston Astros
 United States — Cory Spangenberg [12] Saitama Seibu Lions OF 2020– (SEI) United States Milwaukee Brewers
 United States — Carter Stewart [4] Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks P 2020– (SOF) United States EFSC
 United States — Eric Thames [2] Yomiuri Giants OF 2021– (YOM) United States Washington Nationals
 United States — Drew VerHagen [10] Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters P 2020– (NIP) United States Detroit Tigers
 United States — Zelous Wheeler [2] Yomiuri Giants IF/OF 2015–2020 (RAK)
2021– (YOM) 		United States New York Yankees
 Venezuela — Edwin Escobar [11] Yokohama DeNA Baystars P 2017 (NIP)
2017– (DeN) 		United States Cleveland Indians
 Venezuela — José Flores [5] Chiba Lotte Marines P 2020– (LOT) United States San Francisco Giants
 Venezuela — José Osuna [13] Tokyo Yakult Swallows IF/OF 2021– (YAK) United States Pittsburgh Pirates
 Venezuela — José Pirela [8] Hiroshima Toyo Carp OF 2020– (HIR) United States Philadelphia Phillies
 Venezuela — Albert Suárez [13] Tokyo Yakult Swallows P 2019– (YAK) United States Arizona Diamondbacks
 Venezuela — Robert Suárez [7] Hanshin Tigers P 2016–2019 (SOF)
2020– (HAN) 		Mexico Saraperos de Saltillo

References

  1. ^ Nichol, Matt. Globalization, Sports Law and Labour Mobility: The Case of Professional Baseball in the United States and Japan. Northampton, USA. p. 18. ISBN 1788115007.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g 2021 70-man roster - Yomiuri Giants
  3. ^ a b c d e 2021 70-man roster - Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h 2021 70-man roster - Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
  5. ^ a b c d 2021 70-man roster - Chiba Lotte Marines
  6. ^ a b c d 2021 70-man roster - Chunichi Dragons
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h 2021 70-man roster - Hanshin Tigers
  8. ^ a b c d e f g 2021 70-man roster - Hiroshima Toyo Carp
  9. ^ a b c d e f 2021 70-man roster - ORIX Buffaloes
  10. ^ a b c d e 2021 70-man roster - Hokkaido Nippon Ham-Fighters
  11. ^ a b c d e 2021 70-man roster - Yokohama DeNA Baystars
  12. ^ a b c d 2020 70-man roster - Saitama Seibu Lions
  13. ^ a b c d e 2021 70-man roster - Tokyo Yakult Swallows