Making it to the major leagues is a monumental task that is
accomplished by a mere fraction of the players who are lucky enough to have
professional careers. Getting there and staying there for any length of time is
another matter altogether. For many, opportunity ends up being in other
professional leagues.
Many know about the success some find in Japan, but fewer
are aware that the Korean Baseball Organization (KBO) is home to quite a few
former major leaguers as well. Most recently, Eric Thames
found success in returning to the majors after a wildly productive three-year
stint in the KBO. Keep reading to for more information on some of the players who
have moved across the ocean and are thriving in this lesser-known but popular
baseball league.
Roger
Bernadina, Outfielder: The now-33-year-old left-handed hitter batted a
combined .236 with 28 home runs over parts of seven big league seasons with
four teams. However, he seems to have hit his stride with the Kia Tigers, where
he batted .320 with 27 home runs, 111 RBIs and 32 stolen bases in 139 games in
2017. He will be making
more than $1 million in 2018, as he returns for another year.
Hector
Noesi, Pitcher: The right-hander, who is a teammate of Bernadina, won
20 games with a 3.48 in 2017 after posting 15 wins the previous season. His
35-10 career record and 3.44 ERA in Korea is a far cry from his 12-31 mark and
5.30 ERA in parts of five major league seasons. Still just 31, it is a definite
possibility that his work stateside is not yet done, but he will be back with
the Tigers next season on a $2 million contract.
Nick
Evans, Infielder/Outfielder: A classic “4-A player,” who hit .257 with
10 home runs in 177 games (2009-11; 2014) with two teams, he could never quite
grab a starting job. Now 32, he has become a star for the Doosan Bears, for
whom he hit .296 with 27 home runs and 90 RBIs that past year.
Michael
Choice, Outfielder: A 2010 first-round draft choice, the 28-year-old
right-handed hitter used to be one of the top prospects in baseball. However,
his .188 batting average and nine home runs over three big league seasons;
along with a propensity for striking out derailed his aspirations. He looked
rejuvenated last year with the Nexen Heroes, swatting 17 home runs and 42 RBIs,
while batting .307 in 46 games. He is under contract for
$600,000 with them in 2018, but it would not be a surprise to see him return to
the majors one day.
Xavier
Scruggs, First Base/Outfielder: Similar to Choice, the right-handed
slugger had plenty of power but not enough contact to stick in the majors. His
.227 batting average and one home run in 50 games over three seasons did
nothing to earn him a permanent job. However, he exploded on the scene for the
NC Dinos this past year after signing a million dollar contract,
hitting .300 with 35 home runs and 111 RBIs in 115 games.
Andy
Burns, Third Baseman: Still just 27, the right-hander went hitless in
seven plate appearances for the 2016 Toronto Blue Jays. With a regular big
league job looking unlikely for 2017, he elected to take a $650,000, one-year deal with the Lotte
Giants in 2017, which proved to be a shrewd decision. Appearing in 116 games,
he hit .303 with 15 home runs and 57 RBIs; putting himself in a position to
have potentially multiple options as he moves forward in his professional
career.
Wilin
Rosario, Catcher: The squat right-handed slugger hit .273 with 71 home
runs in five seasons with the Colorado Rockies (2011-2015), but was a derailed
by subpar defense—a must for any national League Catcher. His game has
translated much better for the Hanwha Eagles, for whom he has been remarkably consistent
the past two years. He hit .321 with 33 home runs and 120 RBIs in 127 games in
2016, and .339 with 37 home runs and 111 RBIs in 2017. Still just 29, he will
be playing in Japan
this season and could see himself back in the majors at some point because of
his powerful bat.
Darin
Ruf, Outfielder: Despite hitting 5 home runs in 286 games over five
years with the Philadelphia Phillies, the right-handed slugger batted just .240
and whiffed in nearly a third of his at-bats. He immediately became a superstar
upon joining the Samsung Lions in 2017, hitting .315 with 38 home runs and 124
RBIs in 134 games. He will be rejoining the team for the 2018 season, earning an impressive $1.5
million.
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