After parting ways with Cam Aldred, the Kia Tigers could be in the market for Eric Lauer.
After the Tigers claimed Will Crowe and Aldred off waivers on Friday, the speculation that they’re looking to add a foreign pitcher has been growing.
There was a trigger. Earlier this month, amid speculation that the Kia was in contact with a foreign pitcher with big-league experience, Lauer tagged the Kia Tigers on social media. As pitchers who have been in contact with Korean teams or have decided to move to Korea usually follow similar precedents, speculation that Lauer could be on the verge of joining the Kia organization was inevitable.
In 120 career major league games (112 starts) and 596⅔ innings pitched, Lauer has compiled a career record of 36-37 with a 4.30 ERA and 567 strikeouts.
Drafted by the San Diego Padres in the first round of the 2016 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, Lauer made his big league debut in 2018. Two years later, he moved to Milwaukee, where he flourished.
In the 2021-2022 season, he went 18-12 with a 3.47 ERA in 53 major league games (49 starts).
The left-hander has a fastball that averages 93.3 mph and a variety of pitches, including a cutter, slider, and curveball. In the 2021-2022 season, he was outstanding, striking out 8.9 batters per nine innings and posting a WHIP of just 1.12.
However, injuries slowed him down. 메이저사이트 After going on the disabled list with shoulder impingement syndrome last May, his velocity dropped and he made just 10 big league appearances. Some analysts believe that his rehabilitation, which included psychological counseling, helped him regain some of his performance.
Lauer’s career seems to be similar to Crowe’s, who showed promise before his injury. Before his injury, Crowe was the ace of the Kia organization, winning five games in eight starts. It’s also similar to the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 2021-2022 season, where he split time between the starting rotation and the bullpen before rehabbing from an injury last year.
If Lauer joins the KIA, he’ll have to anchor the starting rotation alongside James Nail and Hyunjong Yang. It’s not just a matter of securing a starting spot, it’s a matter of pitching well enough to be a winning card in the postseason. With a stellar big league career under his belt, Kia should be able to accomplish this if he adjusts well to the KBO. However, just like Aldred’s struggles against right-handed hitters, Lauer has a similar history in the big leagues, so it will be a matter of how quickly he can adjust to the league.