10-Year Veteran Slugger & All-Star Signs In Japan

Former Major League Baseball player Jesús Aguilar has made a significant move in his career by signing a one-year contract with the Seibu Lions, a team in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball league.

This development was reported on December 18 and marks a new chapter for Aguilar, who has had a noteworthy career in MLB​.

Aguilar's journey in the MLB has been marked by various ups and downs.

In his last season with the Oakland Athletics, he struggled with a batting average of just .221, an on-base percentage of .281, and a slugging percentage of .385 over 36 games, encompassing 115 plate appearances.

The Saitama Seibu Lions have signed 1B/DH Jesus Aguilar per Yahoo.

The 34 y.o. Aguilar was an All-Star in 2018, but hasn't produced results in the past two seasons.

Aguilar should be able to hit double-digit homers but not much else. Fits the mold of the classic foreign player. pic.twitter.com/iZ55cPQrMc

— Gaijin Baseball/外国人野球 (@GaijinBaseball) December 19, 2023

This performance led to his release from the team in June. Subsequently, he joined the Atlanta Braves on a minor-league deal, finishing the 2023 campaign at Triple-A Gwinnett​.

Before his time with the Athletics, Aguilar had a stint with the Miami Marlins, where he hit .236 with 15 home runs and 49 RBIs in 113 games before his release at the end of August​.

Throughout his nine-season MLB career, Aguilar has played for five teams, amassing a .773 OPS and hitting 108 home runs in 759 career games.

His peak came in 2018 when he was named an All-Star and achieved a career-high 35 home runs for the Milwaukee Brewers, coupled with a career-best .890 OPS​.

Aguilar's move to Japan represents not only a new opportunity but also a chance to reignite his career in a different baseball environment. Photo Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports