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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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 Former MLB Players to watch in the KBO in 2020

Honorable Mentions: Outfielders Aaron Altherr and Preston Tucker

This pair of outfielders each made notable strides during their time in the MLB as young up-and-comers. But now, the pair find themselves back on the proving grounds, this time across the Pacific Ocean in the KBO.

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For Altherr, 2020 will be his first season abroad. Signed to play with the NC Dinos, Altherr last played in the MLB in 2019, recording plate appearances for the Philadelphia Phillies, San Francisco Giants, and New York Mets. He finished the season with a combined .082 AVG in 61 at-bats, smacking only one home run.

Altherr broke into the bigs slowly, needing three partial seasons before recording a full season with the Phillies in 2017 as a 26-year-old. That year, Altherr showed off his powerful right-handed swing, hitting 24 doubles and 19 homers across 372 ABs will maintaining a solid AVG of .272.

If Altherr can bring back that power-AVG combination in the KBO with the Dinos, he could be an appealing rebound candidate come 2021, which will be his age-30 season.

For Altherr, his path back to the big leagues could follow much in the footsteps of Tucker. The older brother of current top prospect for the Houston Astros Kyle Tucker, Preston spent time with three MLB teams in 2018 before taking his talents to the Kia Tigers of the KBO in 2019.

The move served him well in terms of his statistics.

After hitting .229 with 6 home runs across his three small stints in the MLB in 2018, which netted him just 166 at-bats, the KBO’s Tigers saw him realize some of his potential at the plate. Tucker finished up the 2019  campaign with a .311/.382/.479 triple-slash line to go along with 33 doubles and 9 long balls. Tucker walked 38 times while striking out just 44 times, flashing his contact skills, a widely under-valued talent in today’s MLB.

Tucker will turn 30 this summer, and potentially could, like Altherr, have another shot in the MLB if he continues to produce abroad, as a 31-year-old in 2021.

While the chances of making it back to the MLB after failing early on are slim, don’t count these talented players out. Each made it through the Minor Leagues into the Show for a reason, and if anything, playing in the KBO this season could show MLB scouts that America’s game really isn’t just being played at an elite level stateside.

Next. MLB Players: Ex-big leaguer expected to start Opening Day. dark

Watch out for all four of these former MLB players to make a splash in the KBO in a few weeks time.

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