Former Big League Closer Goes From Mexico To Japan

Injuries and off-the-field problems have completely derailed the major league career of the former lockdown closer, so now 27-year-old Roberto Osuna has signed on to pitch for the Chiba Lotte Marines of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball league. 

Osuna had been pitching in Mexico earlier this season, posting 6 saves for the Diablos Rojos del México. 

He last pitched in the majors for the Houston Astros in 2020, though only got into four games before an elbow injury cut his season short. He led the American League in saves with 38 for the Astros in 2019, and before that had reached All-Star status with the Toronto Blue Jays, recording back-to-back 35+ save seasons in 2016-2017. 

But Osuna's real troubles began with a domestic violence incident that landed him a 75-game suspension in 2018, and led to the Jays dealing him to the Astros. 

Whether he ever gets another shot at a big league job remains to be seen.

 Photo Credit: Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports