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Hiroshima Carp Acquire Kevin Cron, Dovydas Neverauskas

By Mark Polishuk | November 22, 2020 at 9:07am CDT

Catching up on some signings from earlier this week, the Hiroshima Toyo Carp of Nippon Professional Baseball agreed to one-year deals with first baseman Kevin Cron and right-hander Dovydas Neverauskas.  According to Sports Hochi (hat tip to Patrick Newman of NPBTracker), Cron will earn $1.1MM in the form of an $800K salary and a $300K bonus, while Neverauskas will earn $625K in salary and a $250K bonus.

Cron and Neverauskas were released by the Diamondbacks and Pirates, respectively, within the last month.  It was known at the time that the two players were heading to a team overseas, though specifics weren’t known until the Carp’s announcement.

Since the Diamondbacks have several first base options on the roster, GM Mike Hazen told the Arizona Republic’s Nick Piecoro that “we just felt like if we couldn’t carve out legit opportunity for [Cron,] we should keep in mind there is a window by which he has an opportunity to make money.”  The D’Backs received $500K from the Carp in exchange for Cron’s rights.

After hitting 151 homers over 2765 plate appearances in the Diamondbacks’ minor league system, Cron showed some of that power in his 2019 rookie season, swatting six homers in 79 PA at the MLB level.  Cron couldn’t build on this start, however, and went hitless in 20 plate appearances in 2020, appearing in only eight games for Arizona.

Cron told Piecoro that the move to Japan is “bittersweet” since he enjoyed his time with the D’Backs, but as he heads into his age-28 season, “I might not get this chance again.  It’s a chance to go over there and learn as much as I can and maybe further my game even more and see what happens.”

The only Lithuanian-born player in MLB history, Neverauskas got his big league career off to a solid start in 2017, posting a 3.91 ERA over 25 1/3 relief innings for Pittsburgh.  After that debut year, however, the righty simply couldn’t get on track, as Neverauskas struggled to keep the ball in the yard.  Over 80 2/3 innings with the Bucs from 2017-20, Neverauskas posted a 6.81 ERA, 2.20 K/BB rate, 8.6 K/9, and a whopping 2.2 HR/9.

Looking for silver linings from that performance, Neverauskas did increase his strikeout totals every year, and he has solid velocity on a fastball that averaged 94.8mph (though his velo has steadily dropped after a 97mph average in 2017).  ERA predictors also indicate at least a slightly more favorable perspective on Neverauskas’ results than his 6.81 ERA does, as he has a 5.94 FIP, 4.72 xFIP, and 4.33 SIERA over his Pirates career.

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Arizona Diamondbacks Nippon Professional Baseball Transactions Dovydas Neverauskas Kevin Cron

Transaction Retrospection: White Sox’s Yasmani Grandal Signing
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View Comments (21)
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21 Comments

  1. jdgoat

    5 years ago

    Cron is going to mash over there and be the next Thames.

    4
    Reply
    • paddyo furnichuh

      5 years ago

      @JDGoat… That loose comparison would work better if Thames played in Japan. He developed the “God” moniker in the KBO. The KBO and NBP are not too similar.

      Reply
  2. HalosHeavenJJ

    5 years ago

    Cron is a big dude with legit power. Wouldn’t be surprised if he led the NPB in HR.

    3
    Reply
    • elmedius

      5 years ago

      Thought the same thing about Wily Mo Pena… but you know; breaking balls.

      1
      Reply
      • HalosHeavenJJ

        5 years ago

        True.

        Reply
  3. Peart of the game

    5 years ago

    Cron will mash in the NPB but I wonder if Neverauskas will be used as a starting pitcher or as a reliever

    1
    Reply
    • Peart of the game

      5 years ago

      Neverauskas is replacing Tayler Scott most likely and Cron is probably replacing one of Jose Pirela or Alejandro Mejia (the guy I would ideally dump.)

      Reply
  4. Mrtwotone

    5 years ago

    Cron seems like the type of player to become a legend in Japan

    5
    Reply
  5. Rsox

    5 years ago

    The Carps response to the signings “Neverauskas about our business”

    16
    Reply
    • Mrtwotone

      5 years ago

      You win the internet today my friend

      Reply
    • leefieux

      5 years ago

      Pirate fans had many nicknames for him, but that was funnier than all of them.

      Reply
    • HalosHeavenJJ

      5 years ago

      10/10

      Reply
    • DarkSide830

      5 years ago

      well i dont care. its probably carp anyway

      Reply
  6. leefieux

    5 years ago

    Who gives a Carp what they do in Japan Baseball?

    🙂 🙂

    Reply
  7. YakAttack

    5 years ago

    My Lithuanian brethren is heading East…. 🙁

    1
    Reply
  8. Monkey’s Uncle

    5 years ago

    I’m still holding out hope against hope that the Carp sign former big leaguer Mike Carp. Hey, it could happen.

    1
    Reply
  9. geoffb1982

    5 years ago

    Sure wish the SF Giants would do something. Anything!

    Reply
    • wreckage

      5 years ago

      Fold.

      Reply
  10. Fred McGriff

    5 years ago

    Did anyone ask Neverauskas for comment?

    Reply
  11. wkkortas

    5 years ago

    It’s fitting that Neverauskas goes to a team named after a bottom-feeder, having been with a bottom-feeder club the last several years.

    1
    Reply
  12. panj341

    5 years ago

    So glad that he is finally no longer a Pirate after 3 years of torture.

    Reply

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