Former Miami Marlins player Willians Astudillo. Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports

Former Twins fan favorite signs deal with Japanese team

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Larry Brown | Last updated 12/21/22

A former Minnesota Twins fan favorite has found a new team, and he is headed to another country to play.

Willians Astudillo has signed to play in Japan with the SoftBank Hawks, Jon Heyman reported on Wednesday.

Willians Astudillo has signed with Japan's SoftBank Hawks. The MAS Agency client receives a $1.35M guarantee with a chance to double that with incentives

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 21, 2022

Astudillo is receiving $1.35M as part of the deal, with a chance to double his salary thanks to incentives.

Astudillo, 31, played four seasons with the Twins from 2018-21 and spent last season with the Marlins.

He made a strong impression as a 26-year-old rookie in 2018, when he batted .355 in 29 games. He was known for his versatility, which included the ability to catch and even pitch in emergency situations.

La Tortuga’s impending Japanese signing was first reported in November. Now the deal has officially been signed, and we know the financial terms.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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