Roster Move: Cubs sign Japanese slugging first baseman Tyler Austin |
CHICAGO – The Chicago Cubs today agreed to terms with infielder/outfielder Tyler Austin on a one-year major league contract. The 40-man roster stands at 34 players.
Austin, 34, spent the last six seasons with the Yokohama Bay Stars of the Nippon Professional Baseball League. In 65 games with the Bay Stars in 2025, he hit .269 (59-for-219) with 14 doubles, 11 home runs and 28 RBI. He ranked second on the team (min. 200 PA) in on-base percentage (.350), slugging percentage (.484), and OPS (.834), while his slugging percentage and OPS were both good for sixth highest in the league. Since joining Yokohama in 2020, Austin posted a .293 average (383-for-1,305) with 95 doubles, four triples, 85 home runs, 236 RBI, and a .945 OPS in 403 games. During the span, his .377 OBP, .568 slugging percentage, and .945 OPS all ranked third among NPB hitters and his .293 average ranked eighth. In 2024, he led the Japanese Central League in average (.316), slugging percentage (.601), and OPS (.983). Prior to heading to Japan, the Conyers, Ga., native played 209 career major league games across parts of four seasons with the Yankees (2016-18), the Twins (2018-19), the Giants (2019), and the Brewers (2019). He batted .219 (114-for-521) with 20 doubles, one triple, 33 home runs, 91 RBI, and a .743 OPS, while playing about three-quarters of his games at first base. Austin was selected by New York (A.L.) in the 13th round of the 2010 draft out of Heritage (Conyers, Ga.) High School. He appeared in the 2012 MLB Futures Game and, entering the 2013 season, was ranked the No. 3 prospect in the Yankees organization and No. 75 overall by MLB.com.
