Former Red Sox Prospects Bobby Dalbec and Bryan Mata Head to Japan for Fresh Start with Yomiuri Giants
Once seen as cornerstones of the Red Sox’s future, Bobby Dalbec and Bryan Mata are now looking to reignite their careers in Japan. Both players have signed with the Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), marking a new chapter after years of ups and downs in the Red Sox organization.
Dalbec’s Rollercoaster Ride
Back in the early 2020s, Bobby Dalbec was viewed as a potential middle-of-the-order bat for Boston - a slugger with light-tower power and the kind of raw strength that made scouts take notice. But the big leagues are about more than just pop, and Dalbec never quite found the consistency needed to lock down an everyday role.
After parts of five seasons with the Red Sox, each more frustrating than the last, Boston designated Dalbec for assignment in 2024. He left the organization with a career .222 batting average, a .290 on-base percentage, and a .425 slugging mark - numbers that flashed potential but never quite added up to sustained success.
Dalbec signed with the White Sox for the 2025 season, but the results mirrored his Boston tenure. He bounced around in the minors with the Brewers and Royals organizations, trying to find footing that never fully came.
Now entering his age-31 season, Dalbec is heading across the Pacific in search of a fresh start. On December 21, he signed with the Yomiuri Giants, reportedly securing over $1 million guaranteed.
A Better Fit Overseas?
While MLB pitching may have proven too much for Dalbec to consistently handle, there’s reason to believe he could thrive in Japan. The NPB doesn’t feature the same velocity or depth of pitching talent as MLB, and Dalbec’s track record in Triple-A suggests he can do real damage when the matchup is right.
Over 359 Triple-A games, Dalbec posted a .263/.351/.520 slash line with an .871 OPS and more than 20 home runs in each of the last three seasons. That kind of production shows what he’s capable of when he’s locked in. The hope now is that a change of scenery and a different style of play in NPB can help him tap into that power more consistently.
And if you need a reminder of what Dalbec’s bat can do when he connects? Just rewind to May 2023, when he launched a ball 515 feet for the Worcester Red Sox.
That’s not a typo. Five hundred fifteen feet.
The kind of raw power that makes pitchers think twice.
Mata’s Journey: From Top Arm to the Edge
Dalbec won’t be the only familiar face in the Giants’ clubhouse. He’ll be joined by Bryan Mata, once one of the most highly touted arms in the Red Sox farm system. Signed out of Venezuela in 2016, Mata climbed the ranks quickly and was, at one point, viewed as Boston’s top pitching prospect.
But injuries stalled his momentum, and his development never fully recovered. Despite flashes of promise, Mata’s career has been defined more by setbacks than breakthroughs. Boston designated him for assignment ahead of the 2025 season, re-signed him to a minor league deal, but ultimately let him go for good later that year.
In 2025, Mata pitched for the WooSox and logged 67.1 innings with a 5.08 ERA and a 1.66 WHIP. He struck out 93 but also walked 39, a sign that command remained an issue.
He was one of the final cuts in spring training and never got the call to the majors. At 27, and with a history of injuries, the path to an MLB debut was looking increasingly unlikely.
Now, like Dalbec, Mata gets a fresh start in Japan - a chance to finally pitch on a big stage and perhaps rediscover the form that once made him a top prospect.
A New Chapter Overseas
For both Dalbec and Mata, this move to the Yomiuri Giants represents more than just a change of uniform - it’s a shot at redemption. These were two players who carried real expectations in Boston, and while things didn’t pan out the way fans or the front office hoped, the story isn’t over.
Dalbec still has the kind of power that can change a game with one swing. Mata still has the arm that once made scouts believe he could be a frontline starter. Now they’ll try to put it all together in Japan, far from Fenway but still chasing the dream.
And who knows? If things click, this move might not just be a second chance - it could be the beginning of something special.