Cam Devanney Signs with NPB's Hanshin Tigers
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Pirates third baseman Cam Devanney is set to sign with the Hanshin Tigers of Nippon Professional Baseball, according to a report from Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Devanney, who is currently on Pittsburgh's 40-man roster, will cause that roster to drop to 38 players once the deal is finalized.
At 28 years old, Devanney was a 15th-round pick by the Brewers in 2019 and made his big league debut with the Pirates late in the 2025 season after being acquired from the Royals in a trade for Adam Frazier.
At the time of the trade, Devanney was enjoying a breakout season with the Royals' Triple-A affiliate in Omaha, where he played 69 games, slashing .272/.366/.565 with 18 home runs and 14 doubles in 288 plate appearances.
His performance included a strikeout rate of 24.3% and a walk rate of 11.8%. However, in his 14 games with the Pirates, Devanney struggled at the plate, hitting just .139/.184/.167 with a staggering 55.3% strikeout rate over 38 plate appearances.
His performance in Triple-A with Indianapolis was similarly disappointing, yielding a slash line of .256/.327/.361 over 34 games. Given these struggles, the Pirates opted to allow Devanney to pursue opportunities overseas instead of retaining him as a potential depth option for next season.
This trend of MLB players signing with international leagues could indicate a shift in player development strategies and scouting. Devanney will join other players making the jump from MLB to NPB, including first baseman Bob Seymour and right-hander Roansy Contreras, as more players on the bubble of MLB and minor leagues may follow suit in the coming weeks.
From the Pirates' perspective, Devanney's departure is not expected to significantly impact their roster, as he was unlikely to replace Jared Triolo at third base. The team has other options, including Tsung-Che Cheng and Enmanuel Valdez, already on the 40-man roster, who could fill the bench role Devanney was projected to occupy.
As the offseason progresses, the Pirates may look to add offensive firepower to their infield, but Devanney's exit is not a driving factor for any necessary moves.