The KBO playoffs are at their closing levels, with the Kiwoom Heroes assembly the LG Twins and the winner occurring to face the SSG Landers within the Korean Sequence. A number of acquainted names from MLB lately had robust seasons in Korea, so let’s check out three of the highest ex-MLB pitchers and three hitters that excelled there in 2022.
Pitchers
Adam Plutko (LG Twins): 162 IP (28 begins), 2.39 ERA, 0.7 HR/9, 2.1 BB/9, 8.3 Ok/9.
Plutko headed to Korea after struggling mightily in 2021 in Baltimore, pitching to a 6.71 ERA throughout 38 appearances. That got here after 4 years in Cleveland the place he put up a 5.05 ERA throughout 217 1/3 innings. Plutko had strong stroll charges within the majors, however had difficulties with the lengthy ball and posted poor strikeout charges. That’s maybe not shocking, given scouts usually considered him as a pitcher missing in elite stuff however with the command and deployment to make up for it. He’s loved great success in his first season within the KBO, nevertheless. Plutko is now a free agent, having performed the 2022 season on a one-year cope with a $500K base wage and $300K in incentinves.
Drew Rucinski (NC Dinos): 193 2/3 IP (31 begins), 2.97 ERA, 0.7 HR/9, 1.6 BB/9, 9.0 Ok/9.
Rucinski, 33, loved his fourth, and most profitable, season within the KBO in 2022. The previous Angels, Twins and Marlins pitcher has lengthy been top-of-the-line overseas pitchers within the league, and was the second highest overseas earner this yr, taking dwelling a $1.9MM base. He’s proven distinctive sturdiness whereas in Korea, reaching 30 begins in every of his 4 seasons. This yr, he posted his highest innings whole, lowest ERA, and dropped his stroll price by round one batter per 9 innings. Rucinski has additionally seen his floor ball proportion soar whereas in Korea, and his mark of 66.7% in 2022 is properly north of his MLB price of 48%.
Wilmer Font (SSG Landers): 184 IP (28 begins), 2.69 ERA, 0.9 HR/9, 1.7 BB/9, 8.3 Ok/9.
2022 was Font’s second season within the KBO, and comfortably his greatest. The 32-year-old improved his stroll price from a yr prior, issuing one fewer free go per 9 innings. That helped his ERA drop from 3.46 to 2.69, however Font additionally labored deeper into ballgames and threw virtually forty extra innings in 2022 than a yr earlier, all of the whereas sustaining a robust 23.3% strikeout price. Font bounced across the majors between 2012-20, showing for six groups however struggling to submit constant outcomes. One of many greatest shifts since his transfer to Korea is a big uptick in floor ball proportion, as Font posted 55% after which 51.6% marks throughout the previous two seasons, far above his MLB charges.
Hitters
Jose Pirela (Samsung Lions): (141 video games) .342/.411/.565, 28 HR, 55 BB, 81 Ok, 15 SB.
Pirela suited up for the Yankees, Padres and Phillies within the majors between 2014-19, earlier than making the swap to Japan. After one yr with the Hiroshima Carp, he moved to Korea to hitch the Lions. Whereas Pirela posted robust numbers in his first yr, he’s change into one of many KBO’s most feared hitters in 2022. The 32-year-old completed second in dwelling runs, hits, common and OBP all whereas placing out simply 12.9% of the time. It was a large leap from 2021, when he hit .284/.357/.490 with 28 dwelling runs. Whereas a small dip in strikeouts would’ve helped, he was definitely boosted by a .361 BABIP in 2022, virtually 70 factors increased than the earlier season. Nonetheless, it’ll be fascinating to see if Pirela garners any MLB consideration this winter on the again of an MVP-level yr in Korea.
Anthony Alford (KT Wiz): (80 video games) .286/.362/.509, 14 HR, 33 BB, 90 Ok, 5 SB.
Alford, 28, was launched from a minor league cope with the Guardians in Could to pursue a chance in Korea, the place he’s impressed tremendously, showcasing a number of the thrilling expertise that made him considered one of baseball’s prime younger prospects between 2016-18. Alford tallied 240 plate appearances for the Blue Jays and Pirates with a whopping 37.9% strikeout price. These strikeouts have been nonetheless an issue in Korea, however he reduce that again to 27.9%. As a prospect, Alford was at all times touted as having the facility and athleticism to be a star, and whereas he hasn’t been in a position to faucet into that on the prime degree, he’s nonetheless younger sufficient {that a} second season abroad with enhancements proven might make him an intriguing candidate for a second crack on the majors.
Socrates Brito (Kia Tigers): (127 video games) .311/.354/.494, 17 HR, 34 BB, 81 Ok, 12 SB.
Launched by the Yankees on the finish of the 2021 marketing campaign after bouncing round main league groups offering minor league outfield depth, Brito inked his first KBO deal for 2022. Whereas he’d hit simply .179/.216/.309 throughout 218 MLB plate appearances, the 30-year-old discovered his groove in Korea. By the minors and into the majors, Brito’s strikeout price had usually hovered a bit above 20%, however he reduce that again to 14.6% in Korea. Brito usually put up stellar Triple-A numbers, however struggled in his final season on the degree within the Yankees group, so it’s attainable {that a} robust season in Korea will give him the prospect to return to the US and search one other crack as strong outfield depth on an MLB group.
