The Rakuten Monkeys of the Chinese Professional Baseball League have signed left-hander Jonathan Bermudez, according to the CPBL Stats X account. The 29-year-old Bermudez elected minor league free agency at the end of the 2024 season.
A 23rd-round pick for the Astros in the 2018 draft, Bermudez spent parts of his first four pro seasons in Houston’s farm system before the Giants claimed him off waivers in August 2022. He was on Puerto Rico’s roster for the World Baseball Classic in March 2023, but that same month saw the Giants release the southpaw. Bermudez caught on with the Marlins on a minors deal a few weeks later and had been with Miami until he chose free agency this past October.
This time with the Marlins resulted in Bermudez’s Major League debut, as he posted an 8.10 ERA over three appearances and 6 2/3 innings this season. One of the many pitchers cycled on and off Miami’s active roster this season, Bermudez was twice designated for assignment and then outrighted off the Marlins’ 40-man in August and September.
The southpaw posted solid numbers throughout most of his minor-league career but seemed to hit a wall at Triple-A, posting a 7.01 ERA over 140 innings at the top farm level. Bermudez’s walk and strikeout totals have trended in the wrong direction at Triple-A, and home runs were a particular issue for him during the 2022 season in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League.
Bermudez has started 85 of his 122 career minor league games, and seems likely to assume a starting role in the Monkeys’ rotation. Rather than battle for a minor league contract with North American moves, signing with the CPBL allows Bermudez to lock in some guaranteed money and perhaps provide a fresh start to his career.
That’s why numbers and prospect rankings in low minors don’t matter one day you wake up and end up in china.
If they don’t use the Monkees theme song (Hey Hey we’re the Monkees) for a 7th inning stretch, they’re missing a great opportunity. (I know it’s China (Taiwan) so most probably wouldn’t understand it, but still)
While modern American culture is pretty well known in Taiwan, I have a feeling nostalgia for 60’s-70’s era American pop-culture is not
Probably true.
Also, how weird would it be for North American sports teams to be named like that; Sponsor company name and mascot, but no city.
“Welcome to tonights matchup between these 2 old rivals, it’s the Sony Yankees versus the General Electric Red Sox.
that is how it is in all Asian baseball, kbo and npb also do it that way
1960s-70s China had more Cultural Revolution and less pop culture.
Next thing you know, you’ll want them to sign Spencer “Tork”elson and hang a photo of early-20th century outfielder Davy Jones on the left field wall.
As Mickey Dolenz can now sing:
Hey, hey, I’m the Monkee
The only one still hanging around
But I’m too busy recording R.E.M. songs
To put anybody down
Don’t kill me, Monkees fans. Of course, that should have read Micky.
You’re just trying to be friendly.
Don’ t tell anyone please but I saw the Monkees in concert when I was 12. They had a reunion tour and my mom took me and my brother to see them.
Were you and your brother your mom’s chaperone?
Whenever I think of China baseball it reminds me of Nate Schierholtz blowing up their catch in the 08 Olympics.
Different “China” of course, but that game set relations back 20 years.
Rakuten Monkeys vs. Savannah Banana’s when?
I’d definitely watch that over sitting through another “Jose Canseco celebrity HR derby” again glol
Probably looking to feast upon CPBL hitters and possibly move to KBO after the end of the season after showing he can handle a full season of innings as a starter in Taiwan.
I remember thinking this guy was the next unheralded guy the Astros were gonna make into a stud SP. Had a great 2021 season across AA/AAA and then just never really regained that form. Never was a highly touted guy at all, but maybe one day he can find his way back to the majors.
The Monkeys have always needed more lefty arms on their stuff. Good move.
2025 will be the year of the monkey
RETVRN TO MONKE
Shock the Monkey tonight.