CPBL Foreign Players Updates Volume #221
Fubon Guardians News: Luis Escobar
On May 23, the Fubon Guardians released Luis Escobar. According to the team, the 25-year-old right-hander requested to be let go due to personal reasons, and the team approved it.
Maybe it was the case of adjustment to playing in Asia? Despite Luis Escobar’s dominating performance in the Mexican League, the results didn’t transfer to the CPBL.
After his shaky outings in spring training, the team assigned Escobar to the farm team to begin the season. During his time in the CPBL minor league, he posted a 5.93 ERA and 1.68 WHIP over 13.2 innings.
Luis Escobar finished his brief 2022 CPBL season without making a single appearance with the CPBL first team. The Fubon Guardians told the media they would continue to look for other suitable foreign players.
Further Readings
Foreign players come and goes, therefore we compiled a foreign players tracker to keep track of all the foreign players signing for the 2022 CPBL season.
At this moment, Wendolyn Bautista (age 29), Erick Leal (27), Jake Thompson (28) and Tyler Alexander (30), look like the best Mexican League replacement pitchers for the CPBL.
In the Atlantic League, the most obvious choice is Deck McGuire (33), who is pitching great and throwing strikes; his inability to do so has always been his problem. Justin Nicolino (30) is pitching well enough, he could get another CPBL shot if he keeps it up. Former MLBers Julio Teheran (31) and Brett Kennedy (27) are probably both looking for a return to an MLB organization, but you never know.
Julio Teheran is doing quite well in 6 starts: 1.60 ERA over 33 2/3 IP and 35 strikeouts against six walks. Brett Kennedy is in AA for the Red Sox.
Brett Kennedy was apparently signed by the BoSox a day after my comment. Jake Thompson got roudied up in his last start, and Tyler Alexander hasn’t made a start in the last week, so he may be hurt.
Deck McGuire was signed by the Cincinnati Reds on 5/26 is now pitching at AAA Louisville.