Colorado Rockies: Seunghwan Oh could return to Korea
By David Hill
Despite an option for the 2019 campaign that vested last season, Colorado Rockies pitcher Seunghwan Oh could return to Korea for the upcoming season.
As the Colorado Rockies look towards the 2019 campaign, they still have plenty to be excited about. A solid young starting rotation will return, backed up by a bullpen that has the pieces to be dominant. Although setup man Adam Ottavano is expected to leave as a free agent, the acquisition of Seunghwan Oh, and his affordable 2019 vesting option, could make it where the Rockies bullpen does not miss a step.
Instead, those bullpen plans may have be thwarted before free agency even begins. Oh is considering a return to Korea, and stated that he hopes to be able to pitch in the Korean Baseball Organization while he still has the energy to do so.
It has been some time since Oh was a part of the KBO, spending the last five seasons pitching away from his homeland. He spent the 2014 and 2015 seasons in Japan, before signing with the Cardinals prior to 2016. After five years pitching abroad, it may be time for Oh to return home.
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His departure would be a tremendous loss for the Rockies. Although Oh has had an up and down major league career, he has generally been an excellent reliever. Over his three seasons in the majors, he has posted a 2.78 ERA and a 1.085 WHiP, notching 48 saves with 236 strikeouts in 207.1 innings.
As strong as those numbers are, they do not compare to his performance in Korea. The Final Boss was a dominant closer, completely shutting down a league known for its offense. Over nine seasons, Oh had an impressive 1.69 ERA and a 0.819 WHiP, recording 277 saves while striking out 625 batters in 510.1 innings. He is the all time saves leader in the KBO, and if he pitches for another year or two, could be the first player in league history to reach 300 saves.
It makes sense for Oh to want to return home. He will turn 37 years old in the middle of the 2019 campaign, and knows that his career will not continue on indefinitely. If he has a few more solid years left, why not return home, and spend those seasons in front of an adoring fanbase? Here, Oh is just another setup man; in Korea, he is the Final Boss, a legend coming in from the bullpen.
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Seunghwan Oh may be looking to return to Korea next season instead of pitching for the Colorado Rockies. On a personal level, no one can blame him for following his heart.