A year in the Korean Baseball Organization may have been all that former Oakland A’s prospect Dan Straily needed to find himself.
When last we saw Dan Straily in the majors, he was imploding with the Orioles in 2019. The former Oakland A’s prospect had become a serviceable back of the rotation option until that fateful stint in Baltimore. In just 47.2 innings, he allowed 53 runs, 52 earned, on 73 hits, including an incredible 22 homers, and 22 walks, striking out 33 batters. Even as pitching starved as Baltimore had been, they could not keep Straily on the roster.
After his disastrous 2019 season, Straily was unable to find any interest from a major league organization. Hoping to rejuvenate his career, he headed over to Korea, signing with the Lotte Giants on a one year deal worth $1 million.
That year in Korea could not have gone any better for Straily. He emerged as the Giants ace from his first start of the season, completely overpowering the KBO. Straily posted a 15-4 record with a 2.50 ERA and a 1.022 WHiP, striking out 205 batters with 51 walks in his 194.2 innings. He became just the second foreign pitcher, and the tenth in total in KBO history, to reach the 200 strikeout plateau.
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Straily also used that time in Korea to learn. He learned how teammate Park Se-woong threw his curve, and fixed his grip on his changeup. His change went from being a mediocre secondary offering to a weapon, especially as he used it more frequently over the final few months of the KBO season.
That success may be enough to bring Straily back stateside once more. Chances are, the Giants would love to bring him back, especially as he brought them from the KBO basement into contention with a week left. But any potential return would likely hinge on whether or not Straily has an offer to come back stateside.
For a team looking to take a relatively low risk flyer, he could be a good fit. It is highly unlikely that he would replicate that success in the majors, but if those changes to his curve and change carry over, Straily could be a bargain.
Former Oakland A’s prospect Dan Straily has found his way once again in the KBO. His success in 2020 could lead to a return stateside.