Former Dodgers Top Prospect Traded for Mookie Betts Signs With Team in Japan

Jeter Downs is going to Japan.

The former Los Angeles Dodgers prospect, once traded to the Boston Red Sox for Mookie Betts, was released by the New York Yankees on Tuesday and he has signed with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, the Yankees confirmed with a post on X (formerly Twitter).

After signing with the Yankees in the offseason, the 26-year-old hit well with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, finishing with an OPS of .858 in 274 plate appearances. He just wasn’t able to find his way back to the big leagues despite the struggles of DJ LeMahieu and Oswaldo Cabrera at third base and shortstop.

The final straw was pulled when the Yankees traded for Jazz Chisholm Jr. from the Miami Marlins. That effectively blocked Downs’ playing time on the Yankees’ infield. Chisholm made his Yankees debut at third base on Monday against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Downs appeared in 20 Major League Baseball games in two seasons and has one home run and five RBIs. He’ll look to get his career back on track in NPB.

The Dodgers traded Downs, Connor Wong and Alex Verdugo to the Boston Red Sox on Feb. 10, 2020 in exchange for Betts.

Photo Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

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