Former Toronto Blue Jays All-Star Who Was Suspended For Domestic Violence Struggling in Japan

Roberto Osuna, who made the All-Star team with the Blue Jays during the 2017 season, is now playing for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks.

Houston Astros relief pitcher Roberto Osuna (54) pitches against the Seattle Mariners in the ninth inning at Minute Maid Park in 202. | Thomas Shea-Imagn Images

Former Toronto Blue Jays and Houston Astros star Roberto Osuna is struggling in a big way in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball.

Osuna, 30, is a member of the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks.

Per the Yakyu Cosmopolitan on social media:

Roberto Osuna 2022-2023: 0.92 ERA, 74 K in 78.2 IP
Roberto Osuna 2024-2025: 4.47 ERA, 27 K in 46.1 IP

He's transformed from one of the most dominant pitchers in NPB to the worst closer in the league since signing a 4-year, $26M extension.

Roberto Osuna 2022-2023: 0.92 ERA, 74 K in 78.2 IP
Roberto Osuna 2024-2025: 4.47 ERA, 27 K in 46.1 IP

He's transformed from one of the most dominant pitchers in NPB to the worst closer in the league since signing a 4-year, $26M extension.

— Yakyu Cosmopolitan (@yakyucosmo) April 17, 2025

Osuna spent six years in the big leagues with the Blue Jays and Astros, bursting onto the scene in 2015. He made the All-Star team (2017) and recorded 104 total saves in those six years. He led the American League in saves (38) during the 2019 campaign.

Though Osuna was stellar in the majors, he was not without baggage. He was suspended 75 games in the 2018 for violation of the league's Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse policy.

The following article came from MLB.com at the time:

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred made the announcement late Friday afternoon. The suspension is retroactive to May 8, which is when Osuna was placed on administrative leave after he was charged with assault in Toronto

The Blue Jays traded him to the Astros during his suspension and he helped Houston get to the World Series in 2019, losing to the Washington Nationals.

He was injured during the COVID 2020 season and made just four appearances. He hasn't appeared in the big leagues since.

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