Jays add Korean legend Oh to bullpen
Former Cardinals reliever saw numbers dip last season after strong debut in 2016
The Toronto Blue Jays have picked up a Stone Buddha. Not as a spiritual idol, but to use in late-inning relief.
The Jays have signed righthanded reliever Seung-hwan Oh to a one-year, US$1.75-million deal with a club option for 2019. The agreement was pending a physical, which Oh passed Monday.
Known as Stone Buddha (“DOLbucheo” in Korean) for his calm in every situation, Oh is one of the best closers in the history of Korean baseball. Still, he likely won’t challenge Roberto Osuna for the closer duties. More likely, Oh will serve as Osuna’s setup man.
Oh, a member of the Cardinals’ bullpen the last two seasons, posted an ERA of 1.92 in 79.2 innings with 103 strikeouts and 18 walks in 2016, but that ERA jumped to 4.10 last season. The 35-year-old has 39 saves in two MLB seasons after an 11-year professional career in Korea and Japan.
Earlier in the off-season, Oh reportedly had a deal with the Texas Rangers, but it was called off due to concerns stemming from an MRI. Oh played for Korea in the World Baseball Classic in 2006 and 2009 and at the 2008 Olympics.
Oh stands 5-10 and weighs 205 pounds. His primary pitches include a four-seam fastball — averaging 92-93 m.p.h. and topping out at 96 — and a mid-80s slider with a darting motion resembling a cutter.
He was suspended by the KBO League in Korea for six months after it was found he and another player went to a casino in Macau. South Korean law bans its citizens from going to casinos outside the country. Oh’s team at the time, the Hanshin Tigers, terminated his contract amid reports he was linked to a Korean crime organization.
To make room for Oh on the 40man roster, the Jays designated outfielder Ezequiel Carrera for assignment.
GAME NUGGETS
Young six-foot-four lefty Ryan Borucki started Monday’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays in Port Charlotte and threw two complete innings, giving up no hits, walking one and striking out one.
Borucki, 22, will not likely make the Jays out of camp, but is considered a prospect close to a majorleague promotion.
Last season he started at single-A Dunedin and worked his way up to double-A New Hampshire and then triple-A Buffalo, finishing with a 2.93 ERA and 157 strikeouts in 150 innings while giving up 36 walks.
Another left-hander, Matt Dermody, 27, gave up five runs on four hits and a walk to Tampa in the 7-4 loss. Outfielder Anthony Alford slammed a two-run homer off Andrew Kittredge in the fifth inning and his 2017 Buffalo Bisons teammate Dwight Smith Jr. hit a homer in the ninth off Cody Hall. Shortstop Lourdes Gurriel Jr. went 2-for-3.
AROUND THE DIAMOND
Canadian Baseball Network writer Bob Elliott reports that Toronto-born RHP Braden Halladay will be on the Canadian junior national team roster at St. Pete’s for a spring trip next month. Elliott said Roy Halladay’s son has verbally committed to Penn State ... Veteran right-hander Marco Estrada is scheduled to get his first start Tuesday when the Jays host the New York Yankees.