Kohei Arihara Eyes MLB Comeback After NPB Stint

This article explores the renewed MLB buzz around Japanese right-hander Kohei Arihara, a former Texas Rangers pitcher who’s rebuilt his value in Nippon Professional Baseball. Now, he’s poised to hit free agency again.

After a rocky and injury-plagued stint in the majors, Arihara has re-emerged as one of NPB’s most reliable starters. At 33, he’s drawing attention from both MLB clubs and one of Japan’s most storied franchises, the Yomiuri Giants.

Kohei Arihara’s Path from NPB Star to MLB Struggles

Arihara’s story feels like a classic: a pitcher who dominated at home, stumbled abroad, and then clawed his way back into the spotlight. His early years in Japan showed off his polish and durability, plus the kind of command that always gets MLB scouts watching.

Early Success with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters

Before he ever set foot on a major league mound, Arihara made his name with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters. Over six seasons in NPB, he built a reputation for a well-rounded arsenal and the kind of professional poise that made him a hot posting candidate for MLB teams.

In Japan, he was known for:

This track record landed him a two-year, $6.2 million deal with the Texas Rangers in December 2020. At the time, it looked like a smart, mid-tier rotation gamble for a rebuilding franchise.

The Texas Rangers Experiment and Shoulder Setback

Arihara’s transition to MLB just never really got off the ground. In his first season with Texas, he posted a 6.64 ERA over 10 starts, struggling to miss bats and finding little margin for error against deeper, more power-driven lineups.

Early in his Rangers stint, he was diagnosed with an aneurysm in his shoulder that required surgery. The procedure sidelined him until September 2021 and basically derailed any hopes of a smooth adjustment to the majors.

After coming back from the injured list, things didn’t get much better. Over his second season, he logged a 9.45 ERA across five appearances, giving up nine earned runs in just 12 innings. For a pitcher who relies on command and precision instead of overpowering stuff, the combination of recovery, rust, and slim margins proved pretty unforgiving.

A Dominant Return to Japan with the SoftBank Hawks

Once his Texas tenure fizzled, Arihara made the obvious move: a return to NPB. He signed with the SoftBank Hawks and quickly showed that his struggles in MLB didn’t define him as a pitcher.

Reestablishing Ace-Level Form

Back in Japan, Arihara found the form that first made him a coveted arm. In 2023, he posted a stellar 2.31 ERA across 17 starts, reasserting himself as a front-line presence.

He followed that up in 2024 with a 2.36 ERA and racked up 14 wins over 26 starts. Even as his ERA eventually climbed above 3.00, he kept a critical benchmark for any starter with MLB dreams: durability.

He logged at least 175 innings in back-to-back seasons, showing both physical resilience and consistency deep into the year.

Health, Durability, and a Late-Career Window

Now at 33 years old, Arihara appears fully healthy and firmly re-established as a dependable rotation arm. The shoulder aneurysm that interrupted his Rangers run isn’t the headline anymore—it’s his ability to carry a heavy workload while limiting damage in one of the world’s strongest leagues outside MLB.

For front offices on both sides of the Pacific, a proven starter who can take the ball every fifth day, keep his team in games, and handle 170–180 innings has real value. Even if he’s not an ace, that kind of reliability is tough to find.

MLB Return or NPB Powerhouse? Arihara’s Next Move

With free agency set to begin on December 2, Arihara finds himself in a strong negotiating position. Reports out of Japan say he’s drawn interest not only from several MLB teams but also from the Yomiuri Giants, the flagship franchise of Japanese baseball.

Fit and Expectations in a Potential MLB Comeback

If Arihara heads back to MLB, teams probably won’t see him as a top-of-the-rotation guy. Realistically, he fits more as:

His recent run in NPB looks better, and he’s shown he can stay healthy. Analytics folks will have plenty to chew on when deciding if his tweaks in Japan might actually stick in MLB this time.

Maybe Arihara sticks with the comfort and prestige of Japan—possibly with the Giants. Or maybe he rolls the dice for a second MLB shot. Either way, he’s done the hard work and rebuilt his career. With free agency coming up, he’s suddenly one of the more interesting international pitchers on the winter market.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Kohei Arihara Considering MLB Return