The Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball have signed infielder Bobby Dalbec to a one-year contract, according to multiple reports from Japan. MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo reports that Dalbec’s salary is worth more than $1MM.
A highly-touted prospect during his time in the Red Sox farm system, Dalbec is now 30 years old and at a crossroads in his baseball career. Dalbec burst onto the scene with a .959 OPS and eight home runs over his first 92 plate appearances in the majors in 2020, and his first full MLB season saw the slugger hit .240/.298/.494 with 25 homers over 453 PA with the Sox in 2021. Beyond that lopsided slash line, Dalbec struck out in 156 of his 453 PA.
The swing-and-miss eventually overwhelmed Dalbec’s production entirely, as he batted only .199/.272/.328 over 520 PA with the Red Sox and White Sox from 2022-25, with a 37.5% strikeout rate to show from that stretch. Boston parted ways with Dalbec after the 2024 season, and after a minor league deal with Chicago led to only seven MLB games in 2025, Dalbec elected free agency after being designated for assignment in May. Subsequent minors contracts with the Brewers and Royals didn’t result in any more big league playing time, and Dalbec became a minor league free agent at season’s end.
Dalbec hasn’t been able to figure things out against MLB pitching, but he has a career .263/.351/.520 slash line and 89 homers over 1534 PA at the Triple-A level. Even with a 33.57% strikeout rate accompanying those numbers, Dalbec’s ability to produce in Triple-A ball bodes well for his chances of carrying his power over to NPB. It is easy to see why the Giants think Dalbec can bring plenty of thump to their lineup, and if Dalbec can cut back the strikeouts, he might put himself back on the radar for big league teams down the road.
Dude will be a star there. Go Bobby go!
Red Sox are running out of power hitting first basemen to sign
The Giants just took one of their options.
Tristan Casas will hit 25 HRs this year. Use the money and get a #2 SP.
Will he be healthy long enough to hit 25 hr?
Good for him. He may do well given the overall difference in pitching.
I’m very happy for Bobby! He deserves to be happy n the star he hoped to be. His best run was last part of 21, bloom needed to trade him to Seattle then , close to his home, but Bloom was gun shy. Good luck Bobby I hope you knock ‘em dead there!
Yeah! LFG Giants! Oh wait…
Most successful team in the NPB, so yay?
Good luck Bobby!
Seems like a logical choice. Wish nothing but the best for Bobby D!
Watch him hit 60 homers in Japan.
White Sox legend
I thought he’d signed with the Nyotaimori Sushies
Another 4A player who couldn’t hit MLB pitching. Best opportunity for him to make money overseas
I was actually mad the white Sox didn’t draft him in 2016.
Bobby Dalbec. Bobby. Dalbec.
The wind farm is moving
He’s not a bad hitter when he goes the other way. He’ll do that for short periods, then revert to pull-happy, then flailing at outside curves.
But can absolutely crush the ball occasionally.
Not-so fun fact, Yomiuri Giants became pretty close being named Yomiuri Yankees back when they launched the team.
Bobby D is gonna hit 60HR over there. Great signing
Bear Down, Bobby! Good luck over there.