Marek Chlup made his Nippon Professional Baseball debut for the Yomiuri Giants on Saturday, going 0-for-4 against the DeNA BayStars with two strikeouts. Despite the hitless night, Chlup immediately made history when he stepped on the field in Yokohama, becoming the first Czech-born player ever in NPB. He’s the third position player from Europe, joining Mike Blowers (Germany) and Reno Bertoia (Italy).
Chlup first gained global recognition at the 2023 World Baseball Classic for the Czech Republic national team. The Turnov native, who was playing for North Greenville University at the time, hit .333/.471/.417 in four games at the tournament, including a double off a 102 mph fastball from Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki.
Marek Chlup with the double off of Roki Sasaki’s 102mph fastball.
Chlup is the real deal. 5-tool player. Check out that speed rounding 1B too.
(🎥: @VladimrChlup)
— Shawn Spradling (@Shawn_Spradling) March 11, 2023
During his collegiate career, Chlup hit 39 home runs in 180 games with an impressive 1.105 OPS against mostly Division II competition. After competing in the Coastal Plain and Conference Carolinas Summer Leagues, he signed with the Lake Country DockHounds in the independent American Association. He appeared in 114 games across two seasons and hit 16 homers with a .275/.364/.480 slash line. He was also selected for the Team Europe roster for the Global Baseball Games in Osaka in March 2024.
On September 25, 2024, Chlup signed a one-year developmental contract with the Yomiuri Giants and took part in the Miyazaki Phoenix Fall League. Notably, the Giants have shown a willingness to scout talent from independent leagues before, as former left fielder Adam Walker also came out of the American Association. A few weeks later, Chlup represented his country again in exhibitions ahead of the WBSC Premier12, facing both Chinese Taipei and Samurai Japan, the two eventual finalists of the tournament.
The 6-foot-4 slugger saw some NPB action in 2025 spring training, going 1 for 5. He was promoted to the Giants’ top team on July 12 after appearing in 66 games on the farm, where he slashed .265/.327/.397 with four home runs and a decent 113 OPS+. His call-up can also be attributed to an excellent .500 slugging percentage over his past 30 days, as Yomiuri looks for immediate help in the outfield.
While his 27.4% strikeout rate was on the high side, he showed good bat-to-ball skills with an 88.4% in-zone contact rate. He was significantly better against left-handed pitching with a .340/.446/.404 line, including more walks than strikeouts. He also posted a 36.4% hard-hit rate overall and consistently put the ball in the air, with a 55.1% fly ball rate.
On the bases, he went 8 for 10 in stolen base attempts and graded out well as a runner. Defensively, he saw time at all three outfield spots and was rated slightly below average but with a strong arm, making him best suited in right.
The 26-year-old currently profiles as a platoon corner outfielder in NPB. His ability to take the next step will hinge on keeping his chase rates under control, performing better against same-handed pitching, and whether or not his power can offset a lower batting average.
But regardless of his future performance, Chlup has already made history for Czech baseball and is sure to be a fan favorite at the 2026 World Baseball Classic when he takes the field in front of his home fans at Tokyo Dome.
