I dreamt of ML and won 9 times in Triple-A... I can't believe I'm starting a promising player and starting an inning.
Aug 18, 2024
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Buchanan, who plays for the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs under the Philadelphia Phillies, became the second pitcher in the bottom of the sixth inning after starting pitcher Robinson Pina in an away game against the Boston Red Sox on the 18th (Korea time). He was replaced by Michael Rucker in the bottom of the seventh.
On this day, starter Pina (25) came up from Double A, and this was her first Triple A appearance this year. He allowed six hits, two walks, three strikeouts and two runs in five innings, and Buchanan came up in the bottom of the sixth inning, trailing 0-2. Buchanan faced No. 5 Kyle Till and grounded out to the shortstop with a 92.9-mile (about 150km) middle sinker in 1B2S, while No. 6 Bobby Dalbec grounded out to the first base with a 90.4-mile (about 145km) body cutter on the fourth pitch in 1B2S. And he struck out No. 7 Jamie Westbrook with a 93.9 (about 151 km) fastball on his fifth pitch in 2B2S to end the inning. The game was 0-3 and Lehigh Valley lost.
Buchanan, who has been an ace with 54 wins in four years with the Samsung Lions, returned to the U.S. after last season for his two-year contract love call. However, he failed to sign a major league contract and only signed a minor league contract with Philadelphia, and has a 9-3 record and 4.82 ERA in Triple-A.
This is the first time Buchanan has thrown only one inning this season. Buchanan, who had pitched in 21 games in Triple-A alone before the day, has made 16 of these starts, and 5 has been an intermediate game. All five of those middle pitches also threw more than two innings. It was a long relief concept.
It can be said that the mid-term pitching has lost its place to a young prospect from Double-A, or it could mean turning Major League Baseball into a bullpen pitcher for promotion. Can a veteran foreign pitcher with 54 wins in Korea achieve his dream of becoming a major league player in his home country.
indyk@sportschosun.com
