Former Astros outfielder Cooper Hummel is expected to sign with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball league, reports Jon Morosi of MLB Network. It’s a one-year deal with a club option for 2027. Hummel is now represented by GSI, per an Instagram post from the agency in late November. He appeared in 37 games between Baltimore and Houston last season.
The 30-year-old Hummel spent time with four different organizations in 2025, including two stints with the Astros. The club designated him for assignment in late March, and he joined the Yankees on a minor league deal. New York released Hummel in late May, and he latched on with the Orioles. He appeared in one game with the team, striking out in his only at-bat. Hummel was then DFAed and soon found himself back in Houston. He earned semi-regular at-bats with the Astros until he was designated for assignment yet again. Hummel closed the year at Triple-A in the Rays’ system.
Hummel hit just .170 with three home runs and a stolen base at the big-league level last year. He now has a 58 wRC+ across 119 career games. Hummel debuted with the Diamondbacks in 2022. He came to the organization from the Brewers in a trade headlined by Eduardo Escobar. Hummel slashed .176/.274/.307 in 201 plate appearances with Arizona, his most extensive MLB work to date. He also had brief stretches with Seattle in 2023 and Houston in 2024.
Strikeouts have been a consistent issue for Hummel. He posted a 29.5% strikeout rate between the Orioles and Astros last season. He’s at 31.2% for his big-league career. Hummel had better contact numbers in the minors and also showed a tremendous eye at the plate, but has struggled to reproduce those results at the highest level.
Hummel is the latest in a slew of signings for Yokohama. The club also signed infielder Dayan Viciedo and added reliever José Ruiz in recent weeks.
Photo courtesy of Thomas Shea, Imagn Images
Hummel? It figures.
Well, what’s depressing is we won’t get a Copper Hummel headline every other week when he goes to Japan. Oh, wait. That’s a good thing.
Hopefully his Japanese team does not ignore the potential for an adorable keepsake giveaway. KAWAIIIIIII!
He’s another one of those guys that is too good for the minors yet not quite good enough for the show. Hope he has success in Korea
Or Japan.
Oh, right lol
Seems like Jose Castillo and Cooper Hummel can both attest that being DFA’d three times or more in one season kinda makes you want to head off to Japan for some stability, lol
Hummel’s top moment in 2025: Hitting a go ahead homer against Ranger Suarez in 1-0 win for the 1st win of a sweep of Philly.
It could end up being his MLB highlight.
Astros left to figure out who to bounce on and off the roster in 2026. The keys is to sign him before February so he can go through your ST, then DFA him in early May. Bring him back on a minors deal, rinse, repeat as many times as necessary. We all know the drill.
30 year old bum minor leaguer who cant hit in the majors goes overseas. Not news
Muted
Supposed baseball fan who seems to hate baseball players and other humans?
Curious if he will he get any reps at catcher in Japan?