Former Oakland A’s pitcher Daniel Mengden had found his way back to the majors. At least, for one more appearance in September.
A mainstay as a depth piece for the A’s, Mengden had pitched in the KBO in 2021 before returning stateside on a minor league deal with the Royals. He had made four relief appearances before a spot start on Thursday, only to be designated for assignment immediately after the outing.
Former Oakland A’s pitcher Daniel Mengden stays as pitching depth
As it turns out, he will remain in the Royals organization. Lynn Worthy of the Kansas City Star reported that Mengden cleared waivers and will head back to Omaha. It is a somewhat interesting move considering that he could have elected free agency and looked to get a jump on the offseason, but will instead head back to Triple-A.
Mengden is what he is at this point. He is essentially a Quad-A player, a depth option for a pitching staff that can be moved back and forth on the 40 man roster as needed. His career 4.65 ERA and 1.318 WHiP over 309.2 innings, with 232 strikeouts and 103 walks. Those numbers are solid enough for minor league depth, but he is not going to command a long term role on a pitching staff.
While Mengden is valuable as a depth option, it is entirely possible that he will look to continue his career overseas once the 2022 campaign comes to an end. He had pitched well in the KBO in 2021, posting a 3.60 ERA and a 1.200 WHiP in his 120 innings, striking out 104 batters with 35 walks. That performance could lead to more interest, either in the form of a return to the Kia Tigers or another option.
Former Oakland A’s pitcher Daniel Mengden had found his way back to the majors. That return just did not last as long as he would have hoped for.