Arihara signed with the SoftBank Hawks of the Nippon Professional Baseball League in Japan on Thursday, the Yakyu Cosmopolitan reports.
Arihara spent the last two seasons in the Rangers' organization, though he struggled to a 7.57 ERA across 60.2 innings in the majors. He'll return to the NPB where he experienced more success across six seasons before coming stateside.
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Kohei Arihara: Becomes free agent
Rotowire
Arihara elected free agency Sunday.
A standout pitcher in his home country of Japan, Arihara made the jump to affiliated ball ahead of the 2021 season, joining the Rangers on a two-year, $6.2 million deal. The soft-tossing right-hander wasn't able to translate his success overseas to MLB, however, as he compiled a 7.57 ERA and 1.73 WHIP over 60.2 innings across two seasons with Texas. He was outrighted off the Rangers' 40-man roster in September and would have been in line for a standard minor-league salary for 2023 had he opted to remain in the organization, so the 30-year-old determined he was better off becoming a free agent. He's unlikely to command anything more than a minor-league deal if he sticks around in North America, so Arihara will most likely head back to Japan to continue his career.
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Rangers' Kohei Arihara: Passes through waivers
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The Rangers outrighted Arihara to Triple-A Round Rock on Wednesday.
Considering Arihara is in the second season of a two-year, $6.2 million deal, it comes as no surprise that he cleared waivers after he turned in a 9.45 ERA and 2.35 WHIP across 20 innings in the big leagues prior to being designated for assignment. The 30-year-old right-hander will become a free agent this winter and may explore a return to Japan, given his lack of success in North America the past two years.
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Rangers' Kohei Arihara: Designated for assignment
Rotowire
Arihara was designated for assignment Sunday.
Arihara was tagged for 18 earned runs over his last three outings -- including 11 in his last start Saturday -- so the Rangers decided to remove him from both the active and 40-man rosters. It remains to be seen what is next for Arihara, who has struggled to get big-league hitters out since signing with the Rangers in December of 2020.
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Rangers' Kohei Arihara: Rocked by Jays
Rotowire
Arihara (1-3) took the loss against the Blue Jays on Saturday, allowing 11 runs on 12 hits and five walks while striking out one over three-plus innings.
Interim manager Tony Beasley stuck with Arihara after a four-run first inning and five-run third inning before pulling the right-hander after three consecutive hits, including a two-run home run, to lead off the fourth frame. After the Rangers announced in late August that Arihara was moving to the bullpen, Saturday's start was viewed as a one-time event, and the results help explain the reason for that.
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Rangers' Kohei Arihara: Stepping back in rotation
Rotowire
Arihara is scheduled to start Saturday's game against the Blue Jays at Globe Life Field.
After a three-start run following his Aug. 16 call-up from Triple-A Round Rock, Arihara shifted to the bullpen last week. He made one two-inning appearance in relief Sept. 3 but will now step back into the rotation after fifth starter Dallas Keuchel was recently released. Arihara owns a 5.29 ERA and 1.76 WHIP over 17 innings with Texas this season and doesn't profile as an inspiring fantasy option.
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Rangers' Kohei Arihara: Shifts to bullpen
Rotowire
The Rangers announced Wednesday that Arihara has been moved to the bullpen, Levi Weaver of The Athletic reports.
Arihara had tentatively lined up to start Saturday in Boston, but the Rangers are instead expected to promote a pitcher from the minors to enter the rotation that day. The 30-year-old right-hander's move to the bullpen comes after he submitted a 5.40 ERA, 1.67 WHIP and 12:5 K:BB in 15 innings across three starts.
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Rangers' Kohei Arihara: Roughed up in loss
Rotowire
Arihara (1-2) took the loss Sunday against Detroit, allowing six runs on eight hits, two walks and a hit batsman while striking out three in 3.1 innings.
Coming off his best start in the majors, Arihara was ineffective Sunday and allowed 11 of the 21 batters he faced to reach safely. Jeimer Candelario blasted a three-run shot in the second, Arihara walked in a run in the third and two more runners crossed home in the fourth. The 30-year-old has hit a batter in each of his three starts for Texas and has a 5.40 ERA and 1.67 WHIP through 15 innings. Should he continue in the rotation, his next start will likely be next weekend in Boston.
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Rangers' Kohei Arihara: Six scoreless in win
Rotowire
Arihara (1-1) earned the victory Sunday in Minnesota, striking out three in six shutout innings while allowing four singles and hitting a batter.
Arihara cruised through the first six innings, facing just two batters over the minimum. He came back out for the seventh but allowed consecutive singles and was removed. It was the first time in his 12 career big-league starts that he finished six innings. The 29-year-old should continue in the rotation, at least until Spencer Howard (shoulder) returns. His next start will likely be at the end of next week against Detroit.
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Rangers' Kohei Arihara: Awarded another start
Rotowire
Arihara will make his next start with the Rangers on Sunday in Minnesota.
Arihara turned in a decent season debut Tuesday -- he struck out six while allowing three earned runs over 5.2 innings in a loss to Oakland -- and the coaching staff was satisfied enough with the 30-year-old's performance to hand him another turn through the rotation. He'll draw a much tougher matchup this time around, heading out to Target Field to face a Twins offense that ranks seventh in the majors this season with a 111 wRC+.
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Rangers' Kohei Arihara: Receives call-up
Rotowire
The Rangers selected Arihara's contract from Triple-A Round Rock ahead of his scheduled start Tuesday versus the Athletics.
Arihara will be making his 2022 big-league debut after having thus far spent his entire second season in North America at Triple-A. The righty is fully built up as a starter and isn't expected to face a limited pitch count against a hapless Oakland lineup, but he still may be difficult to trust. Over his 72 innings at Triple-A this season, Arihara produced a 4.88 ERA and 1.32 WHIP.
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Rangers' Kohei Arihara: Making 2022 debut Tuesday
Rotowire
The Rangers will select Arihara's contract from Triple-A Round Rock and have him start Tuesday's game against the Athletics, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.
Arihara has appeared in 18 games (14 starts) this season at Round Rock, pitching to a 4.88 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 63:18 K:BB over 72 innings. The move has yet to be made official, as Texas still needs to clear a spot on the 40-man roster prior to Tuesday's contest to facilitate Arihara's promotion. Arihara will be stepping into the rotation spot that became open when Spencer Howard (shoulder) landed on the injured list last week.
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Rangers' Kohei Arihara: Not in mix for Opening Day roster
Rotowire
The Rangers reassigned Arihara to minor-league camp Monday.
Along with Brandon Workman and Nick Tropeano, Arihara was one of three Rangers pitchers with prior MLB experience who was reassigned Monday. After agreeing to a two-year, $6.2 million deal with Texas last offseason, Arihara made 10 starts for the big club and submitted a 6.64 ERA and 1.43 WHIP across 40.2 innings before being removed from the 40-man roster in September.
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Rangers' Kohei Arihara: Competing for bullpen
Rotowire
Arihara is a non-roster invitee to Texas' major-league training camp, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports. He will compete for a spot in the bullpen.
Arihara was part of the Rangers' Opening Day roster and a member of the team's starting rotation in 2021, but he fell short of expectations. A stint on the 60-day injured list (finger) impacted his ability to adjust to MLB, and the right-hander posted a 6.64 ERA over 10 starts before he was designated for assignment in September. Arihara cleared waivers and is back in the organization with an opportunity to contribute as a reliever.
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Rangers' Kohei Arihara: DFA'd by Texas
Rotowire
Arihara was designated for assignment by the Rangers on Sunday.
Arihara inked a two-year, $6.2 million deal with Texas in the offseason but has now been jettisoned from the 40-man roster after posting a 6.64 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 24:13 K:BB in 10 starts (40.2 innings). It's somewhat of a surprising move given the 29-year-old is still under contract for next season, and it remains to be seen whether this means his time with the Rangers is over. Mike Foltynewicz (undisclosed) was activated from the COVID-19 IL in a corresponding move and could fill Arihara's rotation spot.
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Rangers' Kohei Arihara: Knocked around by Astros
Rotowire
Arihara (2-4) yielded six runs on eight hits with just one strikeout in four innings while taking the loss Wednesday against Houston.
Arihara was solid -- albeit with a limited workload -- in his first two starts back from his shoulder injury, but he was overmatched Wednesday against the potent Astros. He coughed up gopher balls to Jake Meyers and Marwin Gonzalez in the second inning, then yielded three more runs in the fourth to end his night. Arihara will face another tough assignment in his next scheduled outing on the road against the Yankees.
Arihara allowed two runs on four hits and a walk with three strikeouts over 4.2 innings in a no-decision versus Arizona on Wednesday.
In his second start back from a shoulder injury, Arihara was solid outside of a sloppy second inning. The right-hander was just one out away from qualifying for the win. He's given up three runs in eight innings across his last two starts, and he now has a 5.89 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 23:13 K:BB through 36.2 innings this season. Arihara seems to have a good chance to stay in the rotation going forward, and he's projected for a tough home start versus Houston next week.
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Rangers' Kohei Arihara: Gets another start
Rotowire
The Rangers list Arihara as their scheduled starter for Wednesday's game against the Diamondbacks in Arizona.
After being activated from the 60-day injured list Sept. 1, Arihara was immediately thrust into the Texas rotation. The 29-year-old looked good in his first outing with Texas in nearly four months, tossing 3.1 innings (47 pitches) while striking out three and allowing one run on one hit (a solo home run) and no walks. Given his light workload his last time out, Arihara likely won't be asked to cover more than 4-to-5 frames Wednesday, which will hurt his chances of factoring into any decision.
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Rangers' Kohei Arihara: Sharp in brief outing
Rotowire
Arihara didn't factor into the decision in Wednesday's 9-5 loss to the Rockies, allowing one run on one hit over 3.1 innings. He struck out three without walking a batter.
Making his first big-league appearance since May 8, Arihara lasted only 47 pitches (29 strikes) but he kept Colorado off balance until serving up a solo shot to Brendan Rodgers in the fourth inning. The 29-year-old likely pitched well enough to remain in the rotation, but it could be a couple more outings before he's stretched out enough to qualify for a win.
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Rangers' Kohei Arihara: Starting in return from IL
Rotowire
The Rangers activated Arihara (shoulder) from the 60-day injured list ahead of his scheduled start Wednesday against the Rockies in Texas.
After securing a spot in Texas' Opening Day rotation and making seven starts, Arihara had been on the shelf since early May after he developed an aneurysm in his right shoulder that required a procedure. The surgery was initially expected to threaten Arihara's availability for the remainder of the season, but he was able to progress quicker than anticipated in his recovery. After checking out fine following a pair of two-inning rehab outings in the minors, Arihara will rejoin the Texas rotation, but expect him to serve as more of a glorified opener than a traditional starter, at least for the series finale with Colorado. Glenn Otto could be a candidate to work in bulk relief behind Arihara, who tossed only 30 pitches in his final rehab start and isn't built up enough to work deep into Wednesday's contest.
