Korean MVP, 3-time ML champion in one fell swoop?
Eric Pedroia, 30, will be the third starter for the Chicago White Sox next season, according to local reports.
“Right-hander Eric Pedroia has signed a two-year, $15 million (about 19.7 billion won) contract with the Chicago White Sox,” ESPN reporter Jeff Passan reported on his social media account on June 6 (KST).
“Pedi, 30, went 20-6 with a 2.00 ERA for the NC Dinos of the KBO this season. He was the KBO’s regular season MVP this year.” The report briefly introduced Pedi’s background.
Peddie made his major league debut with the Washington Nationals in 2017 and went 21-33 with a 5.41 ERA in 102 games (88 starts) over six seasons. 카지노사이트넷 After posting a 6-13 record with a 5.81 ERA in 27 games in 2022, he became an NC Man last December for a total of $1 million.
The move to Korea was a “godsend” for Pedi.
This season, he pitched a dominant 30 games for the NC Aces, going 20-6 with a 2.00 ERA, and caught the attention of the major leagues again. He led the league in ERA, wins, strikeouts (209), WHIP (0.95), batting average (.207), tied for second in quality starts (21), and fourth in innings pitched (180⅓).
Pedi became the fourth player in history to win the Triple Crown (ERA, wins, and strikeouts), joining Sun Dong-yeol (1986, 1989-1991), Ryu Hyun-jin (2006), and Yoon Seok-min (2011). It was the first for a foreign player.
Pedi also became the fifth pitcher in KBO history to achieve the 20-win, 200-strikeout feat. It took him 37 years to accomplish the feat, following Sammi Jang Myung-bu (30 wins, 220 strikeouts) in 1983, Lotte Choi Dong-won (27 wins, 223 strikeouts) in 1984, Samsung Kim Si-jin (25 wins, 201 strikeouts) in 1985, and Hae-tae Sun Dong-yeol (24 wins, 214 strikeouts) in 1986. He was also the first foreign player to do so.
For his efforts, Pedi was awarded the top honor, MVP, at the 2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO Awards Ceremony held on March 27 at the Grand Ballroom of the Westin Chosun Hotel in Seoul. Pedi received an overwhelming 102 out of 111 votes from journalists to take home the MVP honor. That’s 91.9 percent of the vote. He also became the inaugural winner of the KBO Defensive Player of the Year Award for pitchers.
MLB.com, the official website of Major League Baseball, also took note of Peddy’s move to the White Sox.
“After relying on a sinker, curveball, and changeup in Washington, Peddy added a sweeper to his arsenal in Korea and immediately saw results. He struck out 29.5 percent of batters, higher than his major league rate (17.5 percent), and walked 4.9 percent of batters, less than half his major league rate (9.5 percent),” MLB.com wrote.
Local media predicted that Peddie will follow in the footsteps of KBO reverse-export myth Merrill Kelly (Arizona Diamondbacks). According to MLB.com, “The White Sox are hoping Peddy, who has returned to the major leagues, will become a reverse export success story in the mold of Kelly. Kelly spent four seasons in the KBO before returning to the U.S. in 2019, where he posted a 125 ERA+ in his last two seasons.”
There is also speculation about Peddy’s specific role next season. 온라인카지노 “The White Sox can fill a spot in the starting rotation with Peddy,” MLB.com wrote, adding, “Expect a five-man rotation of Dylan Sease-Michael Kopeck-Peddy-Michael Soroka-Jared Schuster,” and projecting Peddy as the White Sox’ third starter.