Yankees’ former home run leader leaves MLB to sign with new baseball team
Do you remember who led the American League in home runs in the COVID-shortened 2020 season?
Because that guy is now heading to play in Japan.
The answer: Luke Voit, for the New York Yankees.
The big right-handed slugger launched 22 home runs in just 56 games played that season, an absurd heater for the whole campaign.
Voit debuted for the Cardinals in 2017, came to New York in 2018, stuck in the Bronx through 2021, then spent time with the Padres, Nationals and Brewers.
He has spent the past two seasons in Mexico. Last year, he hit .270 with 23 homers. And this season, he already had 11 home runs and a 1.050 OPS.
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Voit parlayed that into a contract in Japan with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles.
He’s not the first experienced stateside veteran to head to Japan at the tail end of his career.
In some ways, it’s surprising Voit didn’t stick around longer.
At the same time, he stopped hitting for average and was never a useful defensive player. He was just fun to watch at the plate with his muscular frame crushing the baseball.
Now, he’ll bring that across the Pacific.
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