MLB + Hanshin

From Hanshin to MLB

The following players went from the Hanshin Tigers to the majors for an attempt at stardom. The years in brackets indicate their tenure with Hanshin. This list does not include import players who started in America, made their way to Japan, and returned to MLB afterward. You can find many of them here.

Tsuyoshi Shinjo (1990-2000) – to New York Mets
Keiichi Yabu (1994-2004) – to Oakland Athletics
Kei Igawa (1998-2006) – to New York Yankees
Kyuji Fujikawa (2000-12) – to Chicago Cubs
Seung-hwan Oh (2014-15) – to St. Louis Cardinals
Robert Suarez (2020-21) – to San Diego Padres
Shintaro Fujinami (2013-22) – to Oakland Athletics

From MLB to Hanshin

The following players left NPB for the majors and signed with Hanshin upon their return to Japan. The years in brackets indicate their tenure with Hanshin.

Hideki Irabu (2003-04) – from Texas Rangers
Kenji Johjima (2010-12) – from Seattle Mariners
Tsuyoshi Nishioka (2013-18) – from Minnesota Twins
Kosuke Fukudome (2013-20) – from New York Yankees
Yoshinori Tateyama (2014) – from New York Yankees
Kyuji Fujikawa (2016-20) – from Texas Rangers
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