Right-handed pitcher Jon Duplantier has signed with the Hanshin Tigers of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) in Japan for this upcoming season.
Duplantier, 30, was born in Newark, Delaware, where he was selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the third round of the 2016 MLB Draft out of Rice University. Once considered a top prospect in Arizona’s farm system, he made his MLB debut in 2019. He would only pitch in 2019 and 2021 as a member of the DBacks, finishing with a 1-4 record in two seasons, posting a 6.70 ERA in 19 appearances and seven starts, striking out 46 batters across 49.2 innings of work.
Since the 2021 season, Duplantier has been grinding and taking any opportunity to make it back to the show. He signed with the Dodgers for 2022 and pitched the entire season at Triple-A. As for 2023, he only made three starts as a member of the Phillies organization and then signed with the Mets for the start of 2024.
The Mets released him in June, where he quickly joined the Lake Country DockHounds of the American Association. After four starts, the Dodgers signed him for the rest of the season, pitching in Double-A and Triple-A. He would become a free agent at the end of the year.
Duplantier had signed a minor league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers for 2025, but he was released to pursue the opportunity to head overseas.
