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Nippon-Ham Fighters Re-Sign Drew VerHagen

By Mark Polishuk | November 22, 2020 at 12:19pm CDT

The Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters have re-signed right-hander Drew VerHagen to a new contract, the team announced earlier this week.  The 30-year-old will return to Japan for a second season after a successful 2020 campaign.

A veteran of six MLB seasons, VerHagen posted a 5.11 ERA, 2.08 K/BB rate, 53.9% grounder rate, and 7.1 K/9 over 199 innings with the Tigers from 2014-19.  As you might expect for a groundball specialist, VerHagen’s performance tended to ebb and flow based on his BABIP, with his three highest single-season ERAs (in 2016, 2017, and 2019) coinciding with his three largest BABIP totals.

With his Major League career not making much progress, VerHagen signed with the Fighters last winter, saying that he was “excited” by the chance to work as a starting pitcher.  (He started only eight of his 127 games with Detroit.)  VerHagen took advantage of his new opportunity in 2020, posting a 3.22 ERA, 3.97 K/BB rate, and 9.3 K/9 over 111 2/3 innings for the Fighters.

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Nippon Professional Baseball Transactions Drew VerHagen

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11 Comments

  1. humphrey x boegarts

    5 years ago

    So do they fight with ham or against ham?

    2
    Reply
    • HalosHeavenJJ

      5 years ago

      I get it. I’d much rather experience an incredible culture and make solid money than tool in the minors hoping for another shot.

      2
      Reply
    • gbs42

      5 years ago

      They fight as ham.

      Reply
      • racosun

        5 years ago

        They only fight Nippon-Ham.

        Reply
        • oscar gamble

          5 years ago

          Everybody was Ham Foo Fighting

          3
          Reply
  2. Superstar Car Wash

    5 years ago

    Has Nippon-Ham always been hyphenated? It makes it much easier that way to see that they’re the Fighters from Nippon-Ham instead of thinking they’re the Ham Fighters from Nippon, although the latter would probably be a cooler nickname.

    2
    Reply
    • jd396

      5 years ago

      It’s even better, they don’t really use geographic names… They’re sponsored by a ham packing company. So they are fighting on behalf of Nippon Ham.

      1
      Reply
  3. Big97

    5 years ago

    Could be a nice signing if and when he decides to come back to the U.S.

    1
    Reply
    • oldleftylong

      5 years ago

      Nope.

      Reply
  4. Murphy NFLD

    5 years ago

    Nippon is japan i believe. Nippon professional basball

    Reply
  5. Peart of the game

    5 years ago

    Should be able to build off this season with another strong season in 2021 and generate some MLB interest

    Reply

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