Hanshin reach deal for former Angel Marte

OSAKA - The Hanshin Tigers have reached an agreement to acquire former major league infielder Jefry Marte, the Central League club said Thursday.

Marte played for the Detroit Tigers as a rookie in 2015 before spending three years with the Los Angeles Angels, where he was a teammate of Japanese two-way star Shohei Ohtani this past season.

The 27-year-old Dominican Republic national bats and throws right. Standing 1.85 meters and weighing 100 kilograms, he has batted .222 with 30 home runs in his major league career.

Primarily a first baseman, Marte can also play third base or left field. In 194 at-bats this year for the Angels, he averaged .216 with 22 RBIs and seven home runs.

The signing of Marte follows a season in which another Dominican first baseman, Wilin Rosario, failed to deliver in his envisaged role as a power hitter for the Tigers. Rosario averaged .242 in 281 at-bats but hit just eight home runs.

“Every year, we’re looking for players who can hit and defend well. That’s the foundation for a first baseman,” Hanshin director Osamu Tanimoto said.

• Twitter
• Facebook
• LinkedIn

LATEST BASEBALL STORIES

Giants' Daikan Yoh comes through in clutch in triumph over Buffaloes

Daikan Yoh delivered a pinch-hit, game-winning RBI double in the bottom of the eighth inning to lead the Yomiuri Giants to a 4-3 victory over the Orix Buffaloes in interleague play on Tuesday.

Nick Hundley's care for ailing boy leads to lasting bond with family

Five years ago, veteran big leaguer Nick Hundley visited Children's Hospital of Wisconsin and met a boy named Zach Sprader. Hundley, then with the San Diego Padres, sought to give the young base...

Yankees hurler Masahiro Tanaka tosses two-hit shutout against Rays

At the start of a tough week for his team, Masahiro Tanaka made things look easy on the mound against the Tampa Bay Rays again. Tanaka pitched a career-best two-hitter with 10 strikeouts...