Lions sign extension with Nevin through 2027

 

The Saitama Seibu Lions entered the interleague makeup week with a significant transaction.  

They announced on Monday morning they've signed Tyler Nevin to a two-year extension through the 2027 season. 

"With his strong hitting, solid defense, and dedication and leadership, he is an indispensable player for the Lions right now, and we have determined that he will be an (important) for next season and beyond, Lions General Manager Koji Hiroike said in a statement. 

"We are very happy that we were able to reach an agreement on his contract at such an early stage. We hope that he will play an active role as a central player for the Lions for a long time.'

Nevin, 28, won the Pacific League MVP for the month of May. It was a month where the Lions swept the awards as Tatsuya Imai won the same award for a pitcher.  

The Lions have used Nevin to hit at the top of the order from the third spot to even going in cleanup. 

While not a traditional foreign power hitter with only five home runs, Nevin has contributed in more ways than none by hitting doubles and playing great defense at first base. 

For having fewer whiffs and making decent contact, something the Lions gave lacked, it has kept the team competitive after coming off a last place 2024. 

This is the first time a Lions foreign player has been guaranteed three years since Zach Neal was under contract from 2019-2021.  

Ernesto Mejia was with the Lions from 2014-2021. However, his role diminished from 2017 until he asked to be released in the middle of 2021. 

In a very tight and competitive Pacific League, the Lions finished interleague play with a 10-8 record to be 37-31 through June 22. 

They currently sit in 4th place, just 0.5 games outside of A-class behind the SoftBank Hawks. 

Several things have needed to go right in order to have a winning record and Nevin is a reason for this.  

===

Ryusei Sato traded

When the series with the Chunichi Dragons concluded, the Lions agreed to send infielder Ryusei Sato to the opposition for cash. 

In a strange cycle where Sato was once traded to Fighters only to come back to the Lions and have a promising 2023, he fell out of favor in 2025. 

This is the second time a Lions player was traded mid season for cash following Kakeru Yamanobe to the Tokyo Yakult Swallows. 

===

Follow us on X @GraveyardBall