CPBL Foreign Players Updates Volume #403
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Teams Release Foreign Players Before 831 Deadline
Ah yes, the August 31 trade deadline, which also serves as the foreign players’ registration deadline. It is that time of year when fans have to say goodbye to a bunch of foreign players. In the lead-up to the 831 deadline, teams are forced to make tough roster decisions, cutting their total number of foreign players down to just four for the remainder of the season.
According to CPBL regulations, foreign players released before August 31 deadline are free to negotiate with any team for their next year’s contract. Those who remain under contract after August 31, their teams are able to retain their negotiation rights until February 28 of the following year, under the so-called “228 Clause”.
Here is a brief rundown of all the foreign players who were let go before the deadline. Some are well-known veterans, others spent the entire season in the minor league never received a first team call-up, and a few never made it past development contract status.
Fubon Guardians News: Ninomiya Isaki
On June 29, the Fubon Guardians released development foreign players 二宮衣沙貴 (Ninomiya Isaki). The 26-year-old Japanese right-hander never made it past the development contact status and spent the entire season in the CPBL minor league. During that time, he made 9 appearances, mostly as a starting pitcher and posted a 5.68 ERA and 1.77 WHIP over 31.2 innings.
Note: Why are you talking about June news in September? Well, that’s because the Guardians didn’t even make any official announcement regarding to this release, they only did it via the transaction page. This is why I missed it.
Fubon Guardians News: Negishi Ryo
On August 12, the Fubon Guardians released development foreign players 根岸涼 (Negishi Ryo). The 27-year-old Japanese right-hander never made it past the development contact status and spent the entire season in the CPBL minor league. During that time, he made 21 appearances as a reliever and posted a 4.84 ERA and 1.30 WHIP over 22.1 innings.
Wei Chuan Dragons News: Conner Greene
On August 17, the Wei Chuan Dragons released Conner Greene. The 30-year-old American right-hander never received the call up to the first team and remained in the CPBL minor league the whole time. He posted a 3.18 ERA, 1.41 WHIP over 22.2 innings and preliminary as a reliever.
TSG Hawks News: Yoshida Kazumasa
On August 23, the TSG Hawks released 吉田一将 (Yoshida Kazumasa). Despite the strong 2024 performance, the 35-year-old Japanese right-hander was not able to repeat the same success in his second year in the Taiwan. He finished the 2025 CPBL season with a 5.10 ERA and 1.42 WHIP over 67 innings.
According to the team, despite being removed from the active roster, Yoshida Kazumasa will still remain in Taiwan and participate in the CPBL minor league. The team is hoping to utilise his professional baseball experience to teach some the young Hawks pitching staff.
TSG Hawks News: Onodera Kento
On August 25, the TSG Hawks released 小野寺賢人 (Onodera Kento). The 27-year-old Japanese right-hander spent the entire 2025 CPBL season in the minor league doing rehab assignment following his elbow surgery in 2024. In 15 minor league games, he posted a 3.53 ERA and 1.18 WHIP over 71.1 innings.
Rakuten Monkeys: Jonathan Bermúdez
On August 28, the Rakuten Monkeys released Jonathan Bermúdez. The 29-year-old Puerto Rican left-hander finished his 2025 CPBL season with a 4.75 ERA and 1.54 WHIP over 41.2 innings.
Wei Chuan Dragons: Aaron Leasher
On August 29, the Wei Chuan Dragons released Aaron Leasher. The 29-year-old American left-hander finished his 2025 CPBL season primarily as a reliever, posting a 3.25 ERA and 1.45 WHIP over 27.2 innings. Aaron Leasher was sidelined from mid-May to end of June after he was struck by a comebacker and suffered a fracture in his left pinky finger.
Uni-Lions News: Brock Dykxhoorn
On August 31, the Uni-Lions released Brock Dykxhoorn. The 31-year-old Canadian right-hander finished his 2025 CPBL season with a 4.13 ERA and 1.31 WHIP over 122 innings. According to the team, this was a very tough decision for them, but since Brock Dykxhoorn is currently on a 2-year deal, they look forward to seeing Brock Dykxhoorn return next year for his 7th CPBL season.
Wei Chuan Dragons News: Jasier Herrera
On August 31, the Wei Chuan Dragons released Jasier Herrera. The 27-year-old Colombia right-hander never made it past the development contact status and spent the entire season in the CPBL minor league. He finished his 2025 CPBL minor league season with a 4.93 ERA and 1.48 WHIP over 49.1 innings.
Note: I don’t know if the Dragons officially released him, as the team has not made any announcement regarding his status. I’m only listing him as ‘released’ because, on August 26, the Dragons manager told the media that they would not consider calling up Jasier Herrera to the first team this year, and his last game in the minor league was on August 31.
CTBC Brothers News: William Cuevas
On August 31, the CTBC Brothers released William Cuevas. The 34-year-old Venezuelan right-hander only joined the CPBL in late July as a mid-season replacement. Unfortunately, he did not meet the team’s expectation, in three games, he posted a 15.26 ERA and 3.26 WHIP over 7.2 innings.
Japanese pitchers rarely seem to pan out (a gold prospecting reference) in the CPBL. NPB holds onto top level minor league players in a way that MLB does not (and pays them better), meaning there are more MLB washouts with CPBL talent than there are from NPB. I’m not against CPBL teams signing Japanese talent, but the former MLB system players have a lot more success.
Independent-A league pitchers I will be watching to see if they do anything in the winter leagues are:
Ian Kahaloa (RHP Atlantic League, 28 years old in 2026). He’s pitched well in consecutive Atlanta League seasons, and he was good in limited Mexican League action this late summer.
Erich Uelman (RHP, Atlantic League, 30). He’s big and has 26 games of MLB major league experience. He only made 16 starts and 17 appearances in Atlantic League, so if I were a CPBL team looking at him, I’d want to see him pitching regularly this winter.
Konnor Ash. (RHP, American Association, 27). Ash was the best starter in the American Association this summer, and he pitched effectively in AA in Phillies organization in 2024. Mexican Winter League signs a lot of American Association players, so I’d expect him to pitch there this winter.
Cleiverth Perez (LHP, Frontier League, 26). He’s big pitched well enough in Frontier League to jump to Mexican League, where he pitched fairly well in six starts. I’d want to see him pitching regularly well in Venezuela’s winter league for a CPBL team to give him consideration.