One-time top prospect Jeremy Hermida has agreed to a one-year, $500,000 contract with the Nippon Ham Fighters in Japan.
Hermida re-signed with the Brewers on a minor-league contract just last month and looked headed back to Triple-A for another season, but instead they released him so he could pursue this deal for a lot more money.
Hermida was a first-round draft pick in 2002 and while coming up through the Marlins’ farm system he ranked as the No. 4 prospect in MLB according to Baseball America. He hit reasonably well in parts of eight seasons as a big leaguer, batting .257 with a .749 OPS, but for whatever reason it never quite clicked for Hermida as an impact player.
He’s still just 31 years old, so it’s possible he’ll go to Japan, have a big year there, and make a comeback in MLB.
