Dovydas Neverauskas to become the first Lithuanian ballplayer in Japan's NPB

Dovydas Neverauskas to become the first Lithuanian ballplayer in Japan's NPB
25/03/2021
Neverauskas signed a one-year contract worth US$ 875,000 for Hiroshima Toyo Carp. In 2017, he became the first Lithuanian to break into the MLB.

Dovydas Neverauskas became the first Lithuanian-born and trained player to perform at the Major League Baseball (MLB) level when he debuted for the Pittsburgh Pirates on 24 April 2017.

He will soon become the first Lithuanian to play in Japan's top league, Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).

After the Pirates designated him for assignment and then released him in November, Neverauskas signed a one-year contract worth US$ 875,000 with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp.

The 28-year old righthander appeared in 76 games over four seasons for the Pirates, all as a reliever. Hiroshima, which finished the 2020 season with a 52-56 record, intends to use him as a starter.

Neverauskas is supposed to replace lefthander Kris Johnson, who won 57 games over six years for Hiroshima. Johnson played four of his seven MLB games for the Pirates back in 2013.

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Neverauskas started 58 of the 259 games he played over 10 seasons for the Pirates at the Minor League Baseball (MiLB) level, but never above the Class A level.

Credited with a 94-mile/151.2-kilometre per hour fastball, Neverauskas signed for the Pirates as an international free agent in 2009. He received a US$ 60,000 bonus. His father, Virmidas, is the president of the Lithuanian Baseball Association (Lietuvos Beisbolo Asociacija).