Dovydas Neverauskas

Dovydas Neverauskas
Neverauskas pitching in 2016 Pittsburgh Pirates spring training
Free agent
Pitcher
Born: (1993-01-14) January 14, 1993
Vilnius, Lithuania
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Professional debut
MLB: April 24, 2017, for the Pittsburgh Pirates
NPB: May 30, 2021, for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp
MLB statistics
(through 2020 season)
Win–loss record1–4
Earned run average6.89
Strikeouts76
NPB statistics
(through 2021 season)
Win–loss record0–1
Earned run average10.13
Strikeouts2
Stats at Baseball Reference 
Teams

Dovydas Neverauskas (born January 14, 1993) is a Lithuanian professional baseball player who is a pitcher and is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Pittsburgh Pirates, and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp. He was the first player from Lithuania in MLB, NPB, and LMB history.

Career

Amateur

Neverauskas's father, who coaches youth baseball and national teams and promotes the sport in Lithuania, encouraged him to play baseball, despite it not being well known in the country. Neverauskas said there were no baseball fields in the country.[1] He attended training camps in Italy to better learn the game.[2] He attended his first MLB game in 2006 on a trip with his father. He attended MLB's European Baseball Academy in 2008 and 2009.[1]

Pittsburgh Pirates

Neverauskas signed with the Pirates as a free agent in 2009.[3] He was converted into a relief pitcher in 2015.[4] He began the 2016 season with the Altoona Curve of the Double-A Eastern League[3] and was promoted to the Indianapolis Indians of the Triple-A International League in June.[5] He pitched a scoreless inning in the 2016 All-Star Futures Game.[6][7] The Pirates added him to their 40-man roster after the season.[8]

On April 24, 2017, Neverauskas made his Major League Baseball debut for the Pittsburgh Pirates against the Chicago Cubs. He pitched two innings, allowed one run, and had one strikeout.[9] Neverauskas picked up his first Major League win on August 6, 2017, when the Pirates defeated the San Diego Padres in 11 innings. He pitched two scoreless innings, giving up two hits and striking out three.[10] He finished the season for the Pirates pitching in 25+1⁄3 innings with a 3.91 ERA. The following season, he pitched the majority of the season at Triple-A, registering an ERA of 8 for the Pirates in 25 games. He split 2019 between the majors and minors, with a 10.61 ERA in 10 games for Pittsburgh.[11]

Neverauskas had a 7.11 ERA in 17 games for with the Pirates in 2020, his lowest ERA in the majors since 2017.[11] He was designated for assignment by the Pirates on November 1, 2020 and released on November 3.[12]

Hiroshima Toyo Carp

On November 16, 2020, Neverauskas signed a one-year, $875,000 contract with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).[13][14] He was the first Lithuanian-born player to play in NPB,[15] making his debut and only NPB appearance on May 30, 2021, taking the loss against the Chiba Lotte Marines. He also pitched 14 games in the minor-league Western League, with a 5.35 ERA.[11] Neverauskas left Japan on October 6,[16] and Hiroshima released him after the season.[17]

Bonn Capitals

On March 23, 2022, Neverauskas signed with the Bonn Capitals of the German Baseball-Bundesliga.[18] The first inning he pitched in the Bundesliga was an immaculate inning.[19] He won the national championship with the team, being the closer in the last game of the finals series against the Paderborn Untouchables.[20]

Spire City Ghost Hounds

On February 27, 2023, Neverauskas signed with the Spire City Ghost Hounds of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB).[21] In 26 games, Neverauskas logged a 5.02 ERA with 28 strikeouts and 9 saves across 28+2⁄3 innings of work.[11]

Charros de Jalisco

On November 2, 2023, Neverauskas was drafted by the Long Island Ducks in the Ghost Hounds dispersal draft.[22] On February 23, 2024, prior to the start of the ALPB season, Neverauskas signed with the Charros de Jalisco of the Mexican Baseball League (LMB),[23] making him the first Lithuanian player in the league.[24] In 34 appearances for Jalisco, he compiled a 1–3 record and 5.81 ERA with 17 strikeouts across 31 innings pitched. Neverauskas was released by the Charros on April 3, 2025.[25] However, he returned to Jalisco on May 17.[26] In 13 games (11 starts) he threw 48+1⁄3 innings, going 2–2 with a 5.96 ERA with more walks (27) than strikeouts (24).[24][11] On February 17, 2026, Neverauskas was released by the Charros.[27]

Lithuania

Neverauskas pitched and played first base for the Lithuania national team in the 2025 European Baseball Championship. He had a 3.86 ERA in two games pitching and batted 2-for-5 with a double as the team lost all four of its games.[28] He also pitched for BK Vilnius in the Lithuania Baseball Association in 2024 and 2025.[29]

References

  1. ^ a b "Neverauskas takes long road to Futures Game". MLB.com.
  2. ^ "The Pirates called up Dovydas Neverauskas, the first born-and-raised Lithuanian in MLB history". MLB.com. April 25, 2017.
  3. ^ a b "Lithuanian pitcher hopes to make history". Altoona Mirror. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
  4. ^ "South Atlantic League notebook: San Francisco Giants' Samuel Coonrod starts to see results with the Augusta GreenJackets". Minor League Baseball. Retrieved June 28, 2016.
  5. ^ "Pirates prospect Dovydas Neverauskas proud to represent Lithuania, Mariners prospect Tyler O'Neill, Marlins prospect Josh Naylor represent Canada at Futures Game". MiLB.com. Retrieved November 5, 2016.
  6. ^ "Dansby Swanson, Yoan Moncada headline 2016 Futures Game rosters". CBS Sports. June 28, 2016. Retrieved June 28, 2016.
  7. ^ Berg, Ted (July 15, 2016). "Meet the Pirates prospect who will soon become MLB's first Lithuanian". USA Today. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
  8. ^ "Pirates add Neverauskas, Osuna to 40-man roster". post-gazette.com. Retrieved November 5, 2016.
  9. ^ "Lithuanian reliever Neverauskas makes debut for Pirates". AP News. April 25, 2017. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
  10. ^ Berry, Adam; Toye, Jonathan (August 6, 2017). "S-Rod celebrates return with walk-off vs. Padres". Major League Baseball. Retrieved August 8, 2017.
  11. ^ a b c d e "Dovydas Neverauskas Minor, Japanese, Independent, Mexican & Winter Leagues Statistics". Baseball Reference. Retrieved January 13, 2026.
  12. ^ "Major League Baseball Transactions". MLB.com. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
  13. ^ "ドビーダス・ネヴァラウスカス選手、選手契約合意！". carp.co.jp (in Japanese). November 16, 2020. Archived from the original on November 16, 2020. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
  14. ^ "Dovydas Neverauskas: Moving on to Japan". CBS Sports. November 16, 2020. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
  15. ^ "Dovydas Neverauskas to become the first Lithuanian ballplayer in Japan's NPB". World Baseball Softball Confederation. March 25, 2021. Retrieved January 13, 2026.
  16. ^ "広島助っ投ネバラスカスがリトアニア帰国へ 今季１軍登板は先発１試合のみ - プロ野球 : 日刊スポーツ". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). October 5, 2021. Retrieved January 13, 2026.
  17. ^ "自由契約選手 | 2021年度公示". Nippon Professional Baseball (in Japanese). Retrieved January 13, 2026.
  18. ^ "Pitcherriege mit Topverstärkungen". Bonn Capitals (in German). March 23, 2022. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  19. ^ "Extra-Inning-Thriller und Drama in Berlin / Shutout für Bonn". Baseball Bundesliga (in German). April 10, 2022. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
  20. ^ "Bonn Capitals sind Deutscher Baseballmeister 2022". Deutscher Baseball- und Softballverband e.V. (in German). September 4, 2022. Retrieved June 15, 2025.
  21. ^ "Frederick Atlantic League Baseball Club Signs Two Former MLB Players". Frederick Atlantic League Baseball Club. March 6, 2023. Retrieved January 13, 2026 – via OurSports Central.
  22. ^ "ALPB Holds Dispersal Draft". OurSports Central. November 2, 2023. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  23. ^ "Charros: Rodríguez, Hernández y Neverauskas se unen al bullpen". Minor League Baseball (in Mexican Spanish). February 23, 2024. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  24. ^ a b Linares, Héctor (September 11, 2025). "Dovydas Neverauskas: el lituano que hace historia en la Serie del Rey 2025". Excélsior (in Mexican Spanish). Retrieved January 13, 2026.
  25. ^ "LMB: Movimientos en listas de reserva – 3 de abril de 2025" (in Mexican Spanish). Mexican Baseball League. April 4, 2025. Retrieved April 4, 2025.
  26. ^ Charros de Jalisco [@charrosbeisbol]; (May 17, 2025). "¡Se integra el lituano Dovydas Neverauskas al equipo! 💪🔥" – via Instagram.
  27. ^ "LMB: Movimientos en listas de reserva - 17 de febrero de 2026". lmb.com.mx (in Mexican Spanish). February 17, 2026. Retrieved February 19, 2026.
  28. ^ "2025 Baseball European Championship - Daily Report Final" (PDF). WBSC Europe. September 27, 2025. p. 82. Retrieved September 27, 2025.
  29. ^ "NEVERAUSKAS Dovydas". WBSC. Retrieved January 13, 2026.
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