Former Texas Rangers right-hander Kohei Arihara is officially on his way back to Major League Baseball. After three highly productive seasons with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, the 33-year-old has informed interested clubs that he intends to return to MLB as he enters free agency on December 2, according to reports out of Japan.
Arihara, who originally broke into Nippon Professional Baseball with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, revitalized his career after leaving MLB in 2022. His first stint with the Rangers was derailed by a serious shoulder aneurysm that required surgery and sidelined him for most of the 2021 season. When he did pitch, he struggled to regain form, posting a 6.64 ERA in 2021 and a 9.45 ERA in limited action during 2022 before being designated for assignment.
The move back to Japan proved to be a turning point. Arihara immediately reestablished himself as one of the most consistent starters in the NPB. In 2023, he recorded a dominant 2.31 ERA across 17 starts, followed by an equally impressive 2.36 ERA with 14 wins in 2024. He matched the 14-win total again in 2025, surpassing the 175-inning mark for the second straight year and showing durability that had previously eluded him in MLB.
Arihara’s strong run with SoftBank has positioned him as one of the more intriguing international arms available this offseason. Multiple MLB front offices have reportedly been monitoring him closely, attracted to his improved command, refined pitch mix, and demonstrated ability to shoulder a full workload. The Yomiuri Giants of NPB were also known to have interest, but Arihara’s decision to pursue an MLB comeback has now been made clear.
With his health restored and confidence at an all-time high, Arihara enters the market as a legitimate rotation option for teams seeking experienced pitching depth. His next MLB chapter is set to begin—this time with momentum firmly on his side.
