This was not an expected signing by the Chicago Cubs baseball team:
Hmm, I said. This is not a player I’m familiar with, and probably, neither are you.
Tyler Austin was the Yankees’ 13th round pick out of high school in Georgia in 2013. He made his MLB debut in 2016 and played parts of four seasons for the Yankees, Twins, Brewers and Giants, batting .219/.292/.451 with 33 home runs in 583 plate appearances.
Then he went to play in Japan. And over the last six years in NPB with the Yokohama Bay Stars, Austin batted .293/.377/.568 with 85 home runs in 403 games.
Austin has played some third base and outfield in his career, but now he’s basically a first baseman. He bats right-handed, so this could be a platoon partner for Michael Busch, or serve partly as a designated hitter. He basically takes over the Justin Turner spot on the roster.
Here’s a home run he hit off former MLB pitcher Masahiro Tanaka a few years ago:
Austin also played for Team USA in the Tokyo Olympics that were held in 2021; that’s where the photo above is from.
Interesting signing. It’s not very much money but he could be useful. Austin is 34. Your thoughts?
