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Former Milwaukee Brewers 1B Signs with Japanese League

Originally posted on WI Sports Heroics | By Robin M Adams | Last updated Jun 23, 2025 9:57 AM ET

The Milwaukee Brewers have had a revolving door at first base ever since Prince Fielder departed in free agency following the 2011 season. From 2012-2022, in fact, they had a different player start at first base on Opening Day every single year.

And, of course, those Opening Day starters were not the only first basemen that the team tried at the position. It was not until Rowdy Tellez made back-to-back Opening Day starts in 2022 and 2023 that the streak was snapped (and Rhys Hoskins has started there over each of the last two seasons).

And even when Tellez was with Milwaukee, he split time at the position with Daniel Vogelbach and other players, including Luke Voit, whose professional career in baseball is about to continue on the other side of the world.

Former Milwaukee Brewers First Baseman Luke Voit Has Signed with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles

Former Milwaukee Brewers 1B Signs with Japanese League 1 Brewers designated hitter Luke Voit (45) walks on a full count during the seventh inning against the Angels on Sunday April 30, 2023 at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wis.

Over the weekend, it was reported that Voit, who played for the Brewers briefly in 2023, had agreed to a contract with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of the Nippon Professional Baseball league in Japan.

“Voit signed a pair of minor league contracts with the Mets that didn’t result in any time in the big leagues, and his pro experience in 2024-25 has consisted of 122 games with two different Mexican League clubs. Since the 34-year-old Voit has been crushing Mexican League pitching, he might have something to offer the Golden Eagles as a veteran bat. The Eagles are last in NPB in home runs, with only 25 long balls over 66 games this season.”

In 22 games with the Brewers in 2023, Voit hit .221/.284/.265 with no home runs and four RBI. He previously had played for the St. Louis Cardinals and New York Yankees, with whom he appeared to be a promising young slugger. During the COVID-19 shortened 2020 season, Voit led the Majors in home runs with 22.

However, he was never able to find the consistency at the plate that made him so dominant that year. The last time he appeared in the Majors was with the Brewers over two years ago, and given his age, this upcoming stint in Japan may be his last foray as a professional player.