The maximum amount that KBO league clubs can invest when recruiting new foreign players is $1 million. If the club spent 1 million dollars to bring in a new foreign player, it means that it has received high evaluations and expectations.
But $1 million is no guarantee of success. This year, three out of five foreign pitchers who entered the KBO League with $1 million paid for it.
On the 6th, KIA applied for a waiver notice for Sean Anderson to the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO).
Anderson, who joined hands with KIA for a total of $1 million, including a contract fee of $100,000, an annual salary of $600,000, and an option of $300,000, recorded 4-7 with a 3.76 ERA in 14 games this season and left the KBO League.
Even until April, he went well with 3 wins and 2 losses and an average ERA of 2.58.
After being removed from the first team at the end of May, Anderson, who had time to readjust for a while, endured with 1 win, 2 losses and an ERA of 2.96 in 4 games after his return. However, his team failed to convince his team, as his pitching schedule was delayed due to blisters on his fingers.
KIA, which was pushed to the bottom, decided to send Anderson out and raise the odds of recruiting Thomas Panoni, who was with him last year, as a substitute foreign pitcher.
KIA coach Kim Jong-guk explained, “I wanted a slightly better player, a proven player. In order for the team to win a little more, I needed a stable player, so I made the replacement.”
The disgrace of releasing the first foreign player this year was also taken by the ‘million dollar pitcher’. Birch Smith, who left the Hanwha Eagles less than a month after the opening, is the main character.메이저사이트
Smith started the opening match against the Kiwoom Heroes on April 1st, but complained of shoulder pain in the 3rd inning and was knocked out. Smith, who came off the mound after throwing only 60 pitches, did not make a second appearance.
Smith, who was diagnosed with muscle damage to his right shoulder, had a long hiatus, contrary to the original explanation of a light injury. Eventually, Hanwha announced Smith’s release on April 19th.
The only consolation thing for Hanwha is that Ricardo Sanchez, who was brought in with an annual salary of 400,000 dollars as a substitute, is performing exceptionally well with an average ERA of 1.48 and 5 wins in 9 games.
There is also a million-dollar foreigner who has never been able to stand on the mound in the KBO League and has been expelled. SSG Landers Annie Romero was put on waiver early last month after undergoing rehabilitation due to shoulder pain during spring camp.
Of course, there are million-dollar pitchers who make their teams laugh as much as they invest.
NC Dinos Eric Peddy, who is considered the best foreign pitcher in the KBO League this season, is making a big success with an average ERA of 1.73 with 11 wins and 2 losses. He is showing off his overwhelming skills by ranking second in strikeouts (103) while running first in most wins and earned run average.
Kiwoom Heroes Ariel Furado is recording an average ERA of 2.87 with 5 wins and 8 losses. If you recall that the point support (R/G) per game was 2.29, which was less than the league average (2.80), the interpretation that losing more than winning is not luck rather than poor skill becomes persuasive.
Among the million-dollar foreign hitters, only SSG Guillermo Heredia is doing his job.
Heredia has a batting average of 0.338, 9 home runs and 54 RBIs in 74 games, ranking first in batting average, tied for third in RBIs, and second in hits (97).
NC Jason Martin has a batting average of 0.277 with 5 homers and 28 RBIs, while Doosan Bears Jose Rojas has a batting average of 0.222 with 10 homers and 28 RBIs, so he has not yet shown a significant performance.