Outfielder Sandro Fabian has reportedly agreed to join the Hiroshima Toyo Carp in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball, according to Francys Romero and Mike Rodriguez (via X). The deal is a three-year contract worth $5.8 million, with an additional $600K in incentives.
Fabian had been on the Texas Rangers’ 40-man roster, but the Carp have seemingly paid a release fee to the Rangers to finalize his move, though the exact amount remains undisclosed. Once the deal is finalized, the Rangers’ 40-man roster will decrease from 39 to 38 players.
Fabian, who will turn 27 in March, was originally signed by the San Francisco Giants as an international prospect from the Dominican Republic in 2014. He was considered one of the Giants’ top prospects from 2017 to 2020, as he performed well in the lower levels of the minors. However, his progress slowed as he advanced through the system, and his stock as a prospect declined. After 2021, he became a minor league free agent without advancing past Double-A.
Over the past three offseasons, Fabian signed minor league deals with the Rangers. He finally made his MLB debut in September 2024, being added to the roster in the first week of the month, though he went hitless in five plate appearances across three games.
Primarily serving as upper-level depth for the Rangers, Fabian accumulated 1,093 plate appearances in 265 Triple-A games. His strikeout rate was solid at 15.3%, but his walk rate was low at 6.9%. In the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League, his .272/.332/.482 batting line resulted in a wRC+ of 95.
Fabian’s spot on the Rangers’ roster was likely uncertain, and if he had stayed in North America, he would have likely continued in a minor league role. Even if he managed to earn a regular big league spot, it would have taken him three years to gain enough service time to qualify for arbitration. By moving to Japan, Fabian is leaving affiliated baseball but will have the opportunity to earn more in the short term.
If he excels in Japan, it could open the door for a future MLB return. After three years with the Carp, Fabian will be heading into his age-30 season and could seek a new contract that may bring him back to North American baseball.
