Foreign players updates Volume #30
Guardians News – Chris Seddon
Fubon Guardians have released LHP Chris Seddon. This is Seddon’s 2nd tour of CPBL, as he previously pitched for Lamigo Monkeys in 2015 before his contract was purchased by KBO’s SK Wyverns. Seddon returned to CPBL in 2017 and joined the Guardians rotation however is unable to repeat his success in 2015.
“We have to released Chris Seddon as he has been unable to go deep into games this year” Said Guardian’s skipper. Out of the 12 starts Seddon had in 2017, none of it exceed 6 innings and 50% of the time unable to reach 6 innings.
Seddon finished his 2017 CPBL season with a disappointing result of 5.92 ERA, 1.81 WHIP, 80 ERA+ over 65.1 innings of work.
Guardians News – Scott McGregor
With Guardians part way with Seddon, farm team back up foreign pitcher Scott McGregor is expect to be call up to the top team. McGregor pitched 2 games in the farm league with the result of 8.10 ERA, 1.60 WHIP over 10 innings. However, it is worth noting that McGregor posted K9 of 9.9, BB9 of 0.9 and FIP of 1.30.
New foreign player – Jeremy Guthrie?
According to Guardians skipper. The organisation is still in market for another foreign pitcher it is currently in the final stage evaluation process. The final decision will be based on Scott Richmond’s performance until the end of June.
The new foreign player will not have any previous CPBL, NPB or KBO experience but have extensive MLB experiences. Shortly after the news, a mysterious screenshot surfaced with all signs pointing at former MLB pitcher Jeremy Guthrie could be the next foreign pitcher for Fubon Guardians.
Fubon Guardians foreign players
- Mike Loree – The RHP is the triple crowns winner in 2015. Loree had another strong season in 2016 with 3.98 ERA, 1.35 WHIP over 190 innings. This is his 5th seasons in CPBL.
- Scott Richmond – Canadian Premier 12 / WBC RHP. Pitched 2008 to 2012 for the Blue Jays. 2013 for the Lotte Giants in KBO. 2014 to 2015 for the Rangers in the AAA system. Spent his 2016 season with EDA Rhinos in CPBL with the record of 4.78 ERA, 1.43 WHP over 152.2 innings.
- Scott McGregor – 30-year-old RHP spent his 2016 season with the Nexen Heroes in the KBO with 5.20 ERA, 1.42 WHIP over 90 innings.
- [Released]
Chris Seddon – Former Lamigo Monkeys LHP’s contract was purchased by SK Wyverns (KBO) in mid-season 2015.Seddon had a extensive experiences in various professional leagues around the world with 3 seasons in the MLB, 3 in KBO, 1 in NPB and CPBL.
Uni-President Lions foreign players
- Bruce Billings – 2 years of MLB experience. Spent the entire 2015 season in AAA with 8W, 5L, ERA 3.63. Billings joined Uni-Lions in 2016 with the record of 5.28 ERA, 1.64 WHIP over 170.1 IP while led the league in strikeouts (172).
- Alfredo Figaro – 32-year-old Dominican has 4 years MLB experiences with the record of 5.04 ERA, 1.42 WHIP over 114.1 innings. Figaro also had 2 season in the NPB and 1 season win the KBO prior signing with Uni-Lions.
- Terance Marin. The 28-year-old RHP spent 7-season in the Chicago White Sox system and reached Triple-A in 2016 where he finished the season with the record of 4.66 ERA, 1.38 WHIP over 110 innings.
- [Released]
Mike DeMark – 33-year-old spent majority of his career in the Padres/ Diamondbacks system peaking at AAA level. He spent 2016 season in the Atlantic League with impressive record of 35 Saves, 0.76 ERA, 0.69 WHIP over 47.2 innings. DeMark will take on the closer role for the Uni-Lions in the 2017 season.
Lamigo Monkeys foreign players
- Zack Segovia – 34 year old RHP played for the Lions back in 2015 with 6.16 ERA over 30.2 Innings as relief pitcher. Later that year he represented the USA national team in Premier12 tournament. Prior to his signing with the Monkeys, he spent early half of his 2016 season in the Mexican League with the result of 2.97 ERA, 1.22 WHIP over 39.1 IP. The Monkeys activated Segovia at the end of August 2016. Segovia finished the season with 4.11 ERA, 1.22 WHIP over 46 innings.
- Darin Downs – 32 year LHP, with 3 years of MLB experience as RP with combined records of 4.76 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 84 SO, 39 BB over 90.2 Innings. He was signed by Uni-Lions in 2016 where he went 6.75 ERA, 1.85 WHIP over 52 innings. There’s rumour that Monkeys was going to sign Downs in 2016 but lost the contract to Lions.
- Zeke Spruill – 27-year-old RHP was the 2nd round pick in 2008 by the Braves. He spent 2013~2014 season with the Diamondbacks with the record of 4.24 ERA, 1.55 WHIP over 34 innings. In 2016, Spruill pitched for the KIA Tigers in South Korea with 5.27 ERA, 1.68 WHIP over 152 innings.
- [Farm Team] Ken Ray – 42-year-old RHP has returned to Lamigo Monkeys for the 5th times in his career. Ray has won the ERA title back in 2011. And posted a record of 2.17 ERA, 1.20 WHIP over 103.2 inning in 2014.
Chinatrust Brothers foreign players
- Bryan Woodall – This will be Woodall’s 3rd season with the Brothers. The RHP previously pitched for Brothers in 2015 season with 3.45 ERA, 1.30 WHIP over 73 IP. In 2016 he posted a record of 3.93 ERA, 1.29 WHIP over 89.1 innings.
- Bruce Kern – 28-year old RHP was drafted by the Rockies in 2010 made it to high A within the organisation back in 2014. He was signed out of Atlantic League with the 2016 records of 4W, 1L, 2.17ERA, 1.25WHIP over 62.1 innings. Kern was released by the Brother after 2 starts. Where he left with the record of 11.37 ERA, 2.21 WHIP over 6.1 innings.
- Orlando Roman – 38-year-old RHP pitched for Lamigo Monkeys in 2016 with the record of 12W, 7L, 4.64 ERA, 1.43 WHIP over 157 innings with the ERA+ of 128. After the 2016 CPBL season, Roman ends up pitching for team Puerto Rico in the Caribbean Series and also the 2017 WBC tournament.
- [Contract bought by KBO]
Nick Additon – 28-year old LHP was drafted by Cardinals back in 2006.Prior coming to Taiwan, Additon was pitching for the Orioles AAA team as a SP with 13 starts under his belt this year with the records of 3.81ERA, 1.357WHIP, 50K, 25BB over 80IP. In 2016 Additon went 4.30 ERA, 1.46 WHIP over 37.2 innings with the Brothers. - [Released]
Kyle Simon – The RHP was drafted by the Orioles in 2011.Simon spent his 2016 in the Atlantic League with 2.77 ERA, 1.13 WHIP over 120.1 innings. Simon was released by Brothers merely a day after his signing after the media found out Simon hasn’t finish serving his 50-games suspension issued by the MLB.
Foreign pitchers who might be good bets for CPBL teams in second half:
Atlantic League: Gaby Hernandez (age 31). Hernandez is 6-1 with a 2.91 ERA after 13 Atlantic League starts, and he leads his league with 83 Ks in 83.1 IP.
Mexican League: Nestor Molina (28). The Venezuelan righty has a league leading 1.41 ERA and a 10-1 record. His pitching line so far is 121.2 IP, 95 hits, 5 HRs and 29 BBs allowed and 90 Ks. Someone should snap him up right quick.
Josh Lowey (32). While Lowey is only 7-5 and his 3.42 ERA is only 16th best in the Mexican League currently, he leads the league in Ks by a 18 over Molina — 108 in only 92 IP. His K/BB ratio is 4.5, and spent the second half of last season pitching in the KBO.
Josh Roenicke (34). Roenicke’s 2.64 is 7th best in the Mexican League, and he has 83 Ks in 95.1 IP. Roenicke has a lot of past MLB experience, which Asian teams often like.
Josh Lowey is on the speculation list for potential foreign players, I briefly talked about it here. (http://cpblstats.com/uni-lions-at-final-stage-of-signing-2-new-foreign-pitchers-foreign-players-updates-vol25/).
I’ll definitely keep an eye out for the other you mentioned. I’m quite sure, Lions and Guardians will get a new foreign players. While Brothers have told the media that they have plan to bring in an additional 4th pitcher as backup.
My research suggests that Atlantic League pitchers are significantly cheaper than Mexican League pitchers for CPBL teams to obtain. The maximum Atlantic League salary is still only $3,000 a month, with veteran professional players without significant MLB experience making more like $2,000t-$2,500 a month. My best information is that Mexican League (summer) players are capped at 100,000 pesos a month, or $5,600 at current exchange rates. (The money goes a lot farther in Mexico than on the East Coast of the USA). And Mexican League teams demand compensation, which Atlantic Leagues do not. Atlantic League teams can pay as little as they do in large part because they let their players move up to better paying leagues for token payments.
Of the 15 or so Western Hemisphere players who have played in the CPBL this season, the largest percentage appear to have played in the Atlantic League last summer, often after pitching in one of the Latin American winter leagues immediately prior to joining the CPBL.
Yeah, the last few years Atlantic League have been the go to place to find foreign players. Brothers and Monkeys scouting teams are often spotted at Atlantic League games. I’m sure all 4 teams are still looking for new/ backup pitchers too.