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MLB Players: Former big-leaguers to watch in the KBO in 2020

By Jack Trent Dorfman

CHIBA, JAPAN - NOVEMBER 12: Infielder Park Byungho #52 of South Korea flies out in the bottom of 1st inning during the WBSC Premier 12 Super Round game between South Korea and Chinese Taipei at the Zozo Marine Stadium on November 12, 2019 in Chiba, Japan. (Photo by Kiyoshi Ota/Getty Images)
CHIBA, JAPAN - NOVEMBER 12: Infielder Park Byungho #52 of South Korea flies out in the bottom of 1st inning during the WBSC Premier 12 Super Round game between South Korea and Chinese Taipei at the Zozo Marine Stadium on November 12, 2019 in Chiba, Japan. (Photo by Kiyoshi Ota/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images)
(Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images) /

 Former MLB Players to watch in the KBO in 2020

ByungHo Park (Minnesota Twins, 2016)

As a 30-year-old rookie for the Twins back in 2016, Park failed to cross the Mendoza line, hitting only .191 while smacking 12 home runs in 215 at-bats. After heading down the minor leagues, Park continued to struggle to hit for AVG at a competitive level while also watching his power numbers fall drastically.

In 2017, Park hit just 14 home runs in Triple-A while hitting .247 as a DH for the Rochester Red Wings, not enough to surpass any big leaguers on a team pushing for the playoffs. In 2018, Park returned to the KBO and dominated.

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Right away, Park picked up where he left off before heading stateside. In 113 games for the Nexen Heroes, Park smacked 20 doubles and 43 home runs, finishing with a slash line .345/.460/.718. In 2019, Park’s average came back down to earth in his first season for the Kiwoom Heroes (same team with new ownership), as he hit .280 with a .966 OPS, driving in 98 runs with 33 homers.

To make it back to the MLB as a 34-year-old next season would certainly be difficult, but a right-handed power hitter is not so common in the states today. Park also won a pair of Golden Gloves at first base in 2018 and 2019, perhaps making him even more attractive to an MLB franchise.

Odrasimer Despaigne (Chicago White Sox, 2019)

Coming into the league as a 27-year old rookie out of Cuba back in 2014, Despaigne broke onto the scene with the San Diego Padres, starting 16 games and finishing with a 3.36 ERA backed up by a 3.74 FIP. The following season, the right-hander’s ERA ballooned to 5.80. It took him until a 2017 stint with the Miami Marlins before he could recover some of the consistency that helped him pitch well for the Padres.

No longer a full-time starter (he started in 8 of his 18 appearances in Miami), Despaigne finished with a 4.01 ERA in 58.1 innings. He did a good job limiting home runs, allowing just three, but walked nearly as many batters as he struck out, which was far less than one batter per inning.

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Across 2018 and 2019, Despaigne only made 12 appearances, with just three coming in 2019 with the Chicago White Sox.

Now, after signing with the KT Wiz, Despaigne looks to regain his form as a starter. He’ll presumably be the Opening Day starter for his club once the season resumes, and if he can compile a season similar to that of Kelly or Lindblom, or at least keep his ERA sub-4.00 with decent control, he could take a stab at an MLB come back before it’s too late.

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