“ML returns to fill out starting lineup” Seon Dong-yeol, 20-win ace, leaves Korea at the end of the fall season
Will the NC Dinos be without their 20-win ace next season?
MLB.com, the official website of Major League Baseball, published a column by reporter John Paul Morrissey on Thursday (June 4), predicting that Eric Pedroia will return to the major leagues in 2024 and settle into the starting rotation.
“A key factor in Arizona winning the league title this year was the performance of Merrill Kelly, who returned from the KBO,” said Morrissey, adding that “many in Major League Baseball believe Peddie will return to the big leagues and crack the starting rotation.”
“Peddy, 31, 먹튀검증 pitched 180 1/3 innings in the NC League with a 2.00 ERA, striking out more than one batter per inning, thanks in part to the sweeper he’s been wearing since leaving the Washington Nationals last year.”
Peddy was drafted by the Nats in the first round (18th overall) of the 2014 U.S. Draft. In six seasons in the big leagues through 2022, he compiled a 21-33 record with a 5.41 ERA in 102 games. After last year’s season, he signed with NC and moved to the KBO.
Pedi has been a consistent ace in his career as a major league starter
In 30 appearances, he won 20 games (6 losses) and struck out 209 batters. He made 21 quality starts. He became the first pitcher since Seon Dong-yeol to reach a sub-one ERA, but fell just short.
The American market is also facing a shortage of starting pitchers, and several teams are likely to be interested in Pedi, who has successfully evolved into a sweeper. Japanese clubs are also reportedly interested in Pedi. Japanese media outlets are predicting a US-Japan bidding war.
Pedi pitched in Game 1 of the playoffs against the KT Wiz, giving up three hits (one home run) and one walk while striking out a whopping 12 in six innings. With the series tied at 2-2, he will take the mound for Game 5 on Friday to try to advance to the Korean Series.
NC plans to unconditionally re-sign him for next season, but it will not be easy to accompany him if there is a competition between American and Japanese clubs. A concrete destination is expected to be announced after the postseason.