The Orix Buffaloes of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball announced this week that they’ve signed former Giants right-hander Sean Hjelle. He had elected minor league free agency at the beginning of the offseason.
Hjelle was a second-round pick out of the University of Kentucky in 2018. It’s fitting that he landed with San Francisco, as the 6’11” hurler is listed alongside Jon Rauch as the tallest players in MLB history. Hjelle’s long limbs get him good extension down the mound, albeit not quite at the level one might expect. The downhill angle leads him to generally work lower in the zone with a sinker, as he essentially doesn’t throw a four-seam fastball. He has used a sinker, knuckle-curve and cutter as his three pitches at the MLB level.
The 28-year-old Hjelle has gotten ground-balls at a lofty 56% rate over parts of four big league seasons. He hasn’t missed many bats, and the Giants moved him into a long relief role after the 2023 season. Hjelle soaked up 80 2/3 innings of 3.90 ERA ball two seasons ago but wasn’t much of a factor last year. He only made 12 big league appearances, giving up 13 runs across 15 innings. The Giants designated him for assignment around the trade deadline and sent him outright to Triple-A when he cleared waivers.
Hjelle pitched well in the minors over the course of the season. He tossed 67 2/3 frames, turning in a 3.06 ERA in the Pacific Coast League. He struck out nearly a quarter of opponents with a 55% ground-ball percentage while limiting his walks to a tidy 5.6% clip. Rather than settling for a minor league deal with a Spring Training invitation, he’ll lock in a stronger guarantee in his first move to an Asian league. Hjelle could build back as a starting pitcher in Japan.
6’11”? That’s a big Buffalo!
Are you Hjelle of his height?
Yes but I’m about average height. 4’22”
So I guess he’s shuffling off to join the buffaloes
A 6’11 white dude is going to stick out like a sore thumb in Japan. Good luck to Hjelle on his quest to salvage his career
Forever Giant, literally.
Can I ask a stupid question? Why is it fitting he would land in San Francisco?
Because a guy who’s 6’11” is a giant.
That’s a god tier reference
Good luck Sean! Have a great season in Japan!
While it’s often just a figure of speech, it won’t be here: Hjelle is going to be big in Japan…
Gruß,
BSHH
Dude will look like Shawn Bradley on the mound in japan
Insert gif of Patrick Ewing and Shawn Bradley in space jam at the hospital hitting their head on the top of the doorway. Charles Barkley may have also hit his head.
Article probably should have read “it’s fitting he landed with the Giants”.
Wonder how they will pronounce his name in Japanese considering I don’t know how to in English.
Jelly