Former Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Jose Ureña signed with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles in Japan on Wednesday.
Ureña pitched in just two games for the Dodgers in 2025, throwing three innings and allowing a single run during his time with the Dodgers. He spent just 10 days on the Dodgers roster, signing June 3 and electing free agency after being DFA’d June 13.
The Dodgers designated Ureña for assignment to make room on their roster for Matt Sauer, who pitched for the Dodgers just three more times at the MLB level throughout the rest of the season.
More news: Dodgers Legend Clayton Kershaw to Represent Team USA in World Baseball Classic
The right-hander played for five different teams in 2025, beginning the season with the New York Mets before moving to the Toronto Blue Jays, the Dodgers, the Minnesota Twins and the Los Angeles Angels. Ureña made headlines during the World Series as one of two players to have played at the MLB level for both teams in the Fall Classic during the regular season — the other being infielder Buddy Kennedy.
He made a total of 19 appearances in 2025, posting a 4.58 ERA through 55 innings pitched while striking out 34 batters. The most appearances he made for a single team last season was six, reaching the number with both the Blue Jays and the Angels.
More news: New Padres Manager Has 4-Word Message For Dodgers
Ureña made his MLB debut in 2015 for the Miami Marlins, and remained with the team through the 2020 season. He pitched six seasons with the Marlins — his longest with any team — and had a 4.60 ERA through 142 games for Miami.
He moved to the Detroit Tigers in 2021 and pitched the full season there before bouncing around the league for the rest of his career. Ureña also featured for the Milwaukee Brewers, Colorado Rockies, Chicago White Sox and Texas Rangers in the 2020s.
More news: Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani Earned Most Endorsement Money Out of Any Athlete in 2025
Ureña had a respectable season with the Rangers, posting a career-best 3.80 ERA through 33 appearances for the defending World Series champions in 2024. He finished his career with a 4.75 ERA through 251 games.
Now in Japan, the 34-year-old will look to give the Golden Eagles a boost in the upcoming NPB season, which begins at the end of March.
Photo Credit: Jason Parkhurst-Imagn Images
