Marek Chlup Debuts With Yomiuri Giants
Great news for Czech baseball fans as Marek Chlup has been added to the NPB roster of the Yomiuri Giants. A first in Japanese baseball.
In September, 2024, Marek Chlup signed a so-called developmental contract with Nippon Professional Baseball’s Yomiuri Giants. It was the first for Japanese baseball that a player from the Czech Republic signed with a Japanese NPB team.
Apparently, the Japanese were impressed with his 2023 performance in the 10-2 loss of the Czech Republic vs Japan. Chlup laced a double of Roki Sasaki of (back then) the Chiba Lotte Marines, one of the best pitchers in the NPB.
Of course, Chlup started the season in then Ni-Gun league (the NPB’s minor league).
Before signing with the Giants, he played two seasons for the Lake County DogHounds of the American Assciation of Professional Baseball. With this Indy team he batted a very respectable .325 with nine home runs and twenty-five RBI in his first season. In his second season, his numbers declined to .252 with seven home runs.
As stated above, Chlup started the season in Japan in the Ni-Gun. His stats in the minors were: 268 BA 4 HR 29 RBI 23 R .323 OBP.
Today, Chlup made his debut with the Giants in a 3-0 win over the DeNA Yokohama Bay Stars. Chlup’s debut was a bit disappointing as he went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts.
After Dutchman Rick van den Hurk, Chlup is the second European trained and developed player who reaches the NPB.