Reno Aces' first baseman Kyle Jensen (37) has signed a contract to play in Japan next season.
In mid-November, Aces players Kyle Jensen and OF Gabby Guerrero were both designated for assignment as part of Arizona’s 40-man roster revamping.
Guerrero was claimed by the Cincinnati Reds earlier this week, and Jensen’s signing with the SoftBank Hawks became official on Tuesday.
Letting 30 homers and 120 RBI — and the Pacific Coast League MVP runner-up — walk away is no easy decision, but Jensen, like many of his Aces predecessors, used a monster campaign in Reno as leverage to head overseas. Viewed as strictly a power bat off the bench in the big leagues, Jensen will receive a starting nod with SoftBank, hoping to translate his power production against Japan’s best. A look at the previous 15 position players to head to either Japan or the Korean Baseball Organization after playing for Reno is below. Their overall statistics overseas are noted as well.
2009 Aces
Josh Whitesell — Yakult Swallows [Japan Central League] (2010–11) and Chiba Lotte Marines [Japan Pacific League] (2012–13): 267G, .277 (228x822) avg., 40 HR, 143 RBI
Rusty Ryal — Yomiuri Giants [JPCL] (2011): 33G, .198 (19x96) avg., 0 HR, 4 RBI
Chad Tracy — Hiroshima Carp [JPCL] (2011): 40G, .235 (35x149) avg., 1 HR, 19 RBI
2011 Aces
Brandon Allen — SoftBank Hawks [JPPL] (2012): 12G, .171 (6x35) avg., 0 HR, 1 RBI
Wily Mo Peña — SoftBank Hawks [JPPL] (2012–13), Orix Buffaloes [JPPL] (2014) and Rakuten Golden Eagles [JPPL] (2015): 450G, .264 (401x1519) avg., 71 HR, 222 RBI
Wily Mo Peña belted 22 homers in 185 games for the SoftBank Hawks spanning the 2012–13 seasons.
2012 Aces
Randy Ruiz — Yokohama Bay Stars [JPCL] (2012): 32G, .210 (13x62) avg., 2 HR, 5 RBI
Josh Bell — LG Twins [KBO] (2014): 63G, .267 (64x240) avg., 10 HR, 39 RBI
Cody Ransom — Seibu Lions [JPPL] (2014): 38G, .212 (25x118), 2 HR, 12 RBI
2013 Aces
Kila Ka’aihue — Hiroshima Carp [JPCL] (2013–14): 154G, .258 (132x512) avg., 25 HR, 85 RBI
Brad Snyder — LG Twins [KBO] (2014) and Nexen Heroes [KBO] (2015): 150G, .267 (142x531) avg., 30 HR, 88 RBI
Jake Fox — Hanwha Eagles [KBO] (2015): 38G, .278 (30x108) avg., 7 HR, 25 RBI
2014 Aces
Nick Evans — Rakuten Golden Eagles [JPPL] (2014) and Doosan Bears [KBO] (2016): 118G, .294 (119x405) avg., 23 HR, 81 RBI
Andy Marte — KT Wiz [KBO] (2015–16): 206G, .312 (234x750) avg., 42 HR, 163 RBI
2015 Aces
Danny Dorn — Nexen Heroes [KBO] (2016): 124G, .296 (121x409), 15 HR, 69 RBI
Jamie Romak — Yokohama Bay Stars [JPCL] (2016): 30G, .113 (8x71) avg., 0 HR, 2 RBI