Hiroshima Carp sign right-hander Freddy Tarnock and re-signed the infielder. Ejuris Montero The team announced the signing of a contract for the 2026 season. Terms of Tarnok’s deal are unclear, but Montero will receive $1.25MM (broken down into $750,000 in salary and a $500,000 signing bonus) plus incentives.
Tarnock appeared in 11 games over parts of three major league seasons, including five in 2025 with the Marlins. Tarnock, who signed a minor league contract last offseason and was named to the 40-man roster and active roster in June, posted a 2.45 ERA in 7 1/3 innings with several options in Triple-A and the majors. The right-hander has struck out 35.7 percent of batters in MLB’s small sample size, but also walked 14.3 percent of them.
In part, Tarnock’s increasingly erratic control and his ability to miss the bat have been the story of his minor league career, which has included stops in the farm systems of the Marlins, Phillies, Athletics and Braves. Tarnock posted a 4.08 ERA in 161 innings at the Triple-A level, starting 28 of those 65 games, as he has been used more frequently as a reliever in recent years.
A move to Japan will likely give Tarnock another chance to re-establish himself as a starting pitcher. Tarnock is only two days away from celebrating his 27th birthday, so he’s still young enough to put up some decent numbers with the Carp and maybe get himself back on the big league radar as early as next winter. If nothing else, signing with NPB will bring some guaranteed money to Tarnok, who will likely have to accept another minor league contract with a major league team.
Montero hit .228/.277/.387 in 739 games with the Rockies from 2022-24, which may be part of the trade package the Cardinals sent to Colorado. Nolan Arenado ahead of the 2021 season. In Montero’s first season in Hiroshima, the 27-year-old batted .255/.301/.391 with nine homers and over 396 PA as the Carp’s regular first baseman. While Montero’s numbers aren’t huge for a first-base bat, Montero appears to have done enough for the Carp as they seek a reunion.
