The Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters said on Friday they have signed former Chicago Cubs infielder Micah Hoffpauir on a one-year deal worth $600,000 plus performance bonuses.
Hoffpauir, 30, was picked by the Cubs in the 13th round of the 2002 draft and debuted in 2008.
He has a .251 average with 90 hits and 12 homers in 162 big league games. The left-handed hitter is expected to add some pop at the plate for the Fighters, who had the fewest home runs in Japanese baseball in 2010 with 91 in 144 games.