I thought I was chewing the KBO League, but why did I fail to start a full-time major

Dec 14, 2024

KIA Lauer is leaving the mound in the bottom of the sixth inning in Game 3 of the Korean Series between KIA and Samsung at Daegu Samsung Lions Park on the 25th. Daegu = Reporter Heo Sang-wook wook@sportschosun.com /2024.10.25/

Until recently, he was the starting agent for Major League Baseball. Why did the pitcher with 36 wins fail in the KBO League.

This season, the KIA Tigers have been agonizing over the injury of foreign pitcher Will Crow. At first, Cam Aldred was recruited as a short-term injury replacement, but when the contract was signed with Eric Lauer, who had been in contact since last year, he replaced the pitcher again.

KIA, which recruited Lauer in early August, filled the foreign entry with a three-man system, including James Nail, Lauer and batter Socrates Brito. And with them, they achieved their biggest goal of winning the integrated championship and had a perfect season finale.

KIA, which was the first to renew its contract with Nail, still has one foreign pitcher and one foreign batter. He announced his separation from Lauer and released him freely, removing him from the pending list. Socrates is still a question mark.

Game 5 of the Korean Series between Samsung and KIA at Kia Champions Field in Gwangju on the 28th. KIA won the Korean Series with a 7-5 victory. Yang Hyun-jong is hugging Lauer. Gwangju = Reporter Jeong Jae-geun cjg@sportschosun.com /2024.10.28/

The news that Lauer, who failed to renew his contract with KIA, signed a minor contract with the Toronto Blue Jays on the 14th (Korea time), was reported through a local journalist 'SportsNet'.

Although it is a minor contract, there are conditions that give $2.2 million (about 3.2 billion won) and incentives based on starting and innings when there is a big league call-up opportunity. However, since it is not a major contract, call-up opportunities are expected to come only when they survive the spring camp competition.

In fact, expectations were very high until Lauer came to the KBO League. He has been a full-time starter in the big leagues for almost four seasons, and more than four or five starters have done enough. In the 2022 season, he had an 11-7 career high with a 3.69 ERA with the Milwaukee Brewers.

Game 5 of the Korean Series between KIA and Samsung at Kia Champions Field in Gwangju on the 28th. KIA won the V12 championship by winning against Samsung. Nail, Lauer, Socrates, and Na Sung-beom are taking a commemorative photo. Gwangju =Song Jeong-heon, Reporter Song@sportschosun.com/2024.10.28/

Until just before, his big league career was so good that when Asian clubs showed interest last year, the player did not show much interest. However, he pitched only 10 games the very next season in 2022, when he won 11, and was having a bad season this year, staying in the minors with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Houston Astros. It seems that there was an injury aftermath.

Lauer, who made his KBO League debut against the Samsung Lions on Aug. 11, went 2-2 with a 4.93 ERA in seven games. I've pitched well before, but it's hard to say that it was actually stable. He was busy barely filling five innings, and there were frequent situations where the number of pitches increased rapidly because the ball did not work. Of the seven games he took the mound, only two quality starts were made.

In Game 3 of the Korean Series between KIA and Samsung at Daegu Samsung Lions Park on the 25th, KIA Lauer, with two outs and runners on first base, is cheering as he treats Samsung's Park Byung-ho with a double play in the bottom of the second inning. Daegu = Reporter Heo Sang-wook wook@sportschosun.com /2024.10.25/

Some batters on the other team who faced Lauer said "The ball is on the clear side." It has a fast ball in the mid-150km range and good breaking ball power, but this is why it was easier to attack than expected.

KIA also indirectly acknowledged its disappointment in the performance by using Nail-Yang Hyun-jong 'One Two Punch' on the Korean Series stage where the championship was at stake and putting Lauer in the background. Of course, it was not a stumbling block because I achieved my goal nonetheless.

However, the KBO League farewell of a pitcher with a big league career, who was on a roll, ended somewhat unfortunately.

youll@sportschosun.com