The Chunichi Dragons of Nippon Professional Baseball have agreed to a deal with infielder Jason Vosler for the 2025 season, according to multiple reports out of Japan. Vosler elected minor league free agency at the end of the 2024 Major League campaign, which he spent as a member of the Mariners organization.
The majority of Vosler’s time with Seattle was spent at Triple-A Tacoma, where he hit .303/.371/.573 and 31 homers over 524 plate appearances for the Rainiers. Despite these impressive numbers, Vosler didn’t receive much playing time at the MLB level, as he only appeared in 10 games with the Mariners (hitting a much more modest .179/.233/.286 in 30 PA) in late July and early August. Seattle designated Vosler for assignment in September and then outrighted him off the 40-man roster.
Originally a 16th-round pick for the Cubs in the 2014 draft, Vosler broke into the big leagues with San Francisco in 2021, and his MLB resume consists of 107 total games with the Giants, Reds, and Mariners over the last four seasons. He had a strong .265/.342/.469 slash line in 111 PA with the Giants in 2022, as the platoon-heavy team gave the left-handed hitting Vosler a lot of looks against right-handed pitching. That burst of productivity was relatively short-lived, however, and Vosler has hit .207/.274/.395 in 288 PA against Major League pitching on the whole.
Vosler played mostly third base in his two seasons with the Giants and was largely a first baseman in his one year in Cincinnati. He has also made a handful of appearances at both corner outfield positions and both middle infield positions, and the 2024 season saw Vosler primarily work as a first baseman and right fielder in Tacoma.
It remains to be seen where Vosler will line up for the Dragons, but his versatility gives the NPB team some flexibility in deciding how they’ll utilize the 31-year-old. Since Vosler would’ve had to settle for another minor league contract with a North American team, the move to Japan will land him more guaranteed money and a new chapter in his 11-year pro career.
He should at least be a small upgrade to the offense over Orlando Calixte, Dayan Viciedo, and Alex Dickerson
Always liked Dickerson. Sucks that his back didn’t feel the same way.
That would be an interesting experience to play pro baseball in Japan – best of luck to JV.
Classic AAAA player. Long swing, plenty of power but unable to stay consistent in the show due to that long swing
Mariners legend!
“I led this club in 9th inning doubles in the month of August!”
I still think he could be a useful utility guy off the bench against lefties. Vosler is still a useful depth piece if used right. Japan got a one that shouldn’t of gotten away.