Controversial former SF Giants reliever looks to keep career alive in Japan

Former SF Giants pitcher Sean Hjelle has signed with the Orix Buffaloes, an NPB team in Japan. Hjelle was investigated by MLB last season for abuse allegations made against him by his wife which is why he was something of a controversial figure amongst Giants fans.

Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports that MLB concluded its investigation into the allegations and that no disciplinary action will be taken. Now, Hjelle will head overseas looking to keep his career alive.

Former SF Giants reliever Sean Hjelle departs for Japan

The Giants drafted Hjelle in the second round of the 2018 MLB draft. He was a promising young arm out of Kentucky and the hope was that he could one day become a starter in San Francisco's rotation.

He had some early success in the minors that got people excited about his potential, but that did not translate to the big league level at least in his first two stints with the Giants.

In 2022 he had a 5.76 ERA in eight appearances and followed that up with a 6.52 ERA in 15 appearances in 2023.

2024 saw manager Bob Melvin take the reins in San Francisco and he was impressed with the tall right-hander. Hjelle ended up having his best career season that year as he posted a 3.90 ERA in 58 appearances and over 80 innings pitched.

2025 was a return to the poor form he showed in 2022 and 2023 as his ERA ballooned to 7.80 and he was eventually designated for assignment by the team although no team picked him up on waivers.

Probably the two most interesting things about Hjelle's time with the Giants is that he was a literal Giant, standing at 6-foot-11 which made him one of the tallest pitchers in MLB history.

Not only that, but he had to make a start against the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2025 on short notice after the Giants traded away Kyle Harrison to the Boston Red Sox in the Rafael Devers trade. Harrison was scheduled to pitch but Hjelle was thrown to the wolves and he did okay considering the circumstances, allowing two runs in 3 and 2/3 innings pitched.

Hjelle will follow another former Giant, Carson Ragsdale who also signed with a team in Japan to try and keep his career going. Ragsdale is quite tall as well at 6-foot-8 so there is a clear theme of tall former Giants pitchers heading to Japan this offseason.