Hernan Iribarren has enjoyed a largely unremarkable major league career, but he still has an interesting personal tale to tell C. Trent Rosecrans of the Cincinnati Enquirer. Once a reasonably notable prospect, Iribarren hasn’t quite yet appeared in fifty MLB games. And at 32 years of age, he’s unlikely to make a significant on-field impact for the Reds organization even if he does crack the MLB roster. Still, writes Rosecrans, Iribarren’s presence will continue to be felt, as he has provided invaluable mentoring to a variety of Cincinnati players — most notably, fellow Venezuelan infielders Jose Peraza and Eugenio Suarez.
Here’s more from the NL Central:
- GM Neal Huntington suggested that the Pirates are basically resigned to the fact that third baseman Jung Ho Kang will not be available on Opening Day, Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports on Twitter. There still has not been any movement on Kang’s visa application following his conviction for driving drunk in his native South Korea. Even assuming he’s able to make it over in short order, there’ll probably be at least some time required for him to get up to speed.
- The Brewers have informed catcher Manny Pina and righty Jhan Marinez that they’ll be on the active roster to open the year, MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy reports (Twitter links). Both were among the many Milwaukee 40-man members who enter the year without any options, so the news means that the club will avoid the need to expose them to waivers. Pina, 29, has a thin MLB track record but will share duties behind the plate with either Jett Bandy or Andrew Susac; the latter is currently dealing with neck and back issues, clouding his outlook, though both still have options. As for Marinez, he will have a chance to follow up on his solid 2016 season, in which he threw 62 1/3 innings of 3.18 ERA ball with 7.2 K/9 and 3.0 BB/9.
- Meanwhile, the Brewers received some disappointing news on the farm, as righty Devin Williams is headed for Tommy John surgery, per Jim Callis of MLB.com (via Twitter). In the most recent prospect rankings of the MLB.com team, Williams takes the 18th spot among Milwaukee farmhands. The 22-year-old, a second-round pick in 2013, reached the High-A level last year and is said to carry future mid-rotation upside.
Is mlb gonna give its own penalty to kang? Maybe I’m overthinking it a little, but it bothers me that the pirates keep talking about him and him being ready for the season. He needs to be suspended
Completely agreed
Wait did David Freese get suspended?
No, but he’s apparently irrelevant because he’s not Jung Ho Kang.
I think that the issue is that no one has been able to talk to him face to face because he is stuck in South Korea. Any potential discipline usually gets a hearing first, and currently he isn’t available to attend one. I know that the Pirates have said they won’t decide about any team discipline for him until they get a chance to meet with him.
Ummm, with technology today, I think he can have a “face to face.” I FaceTime my family when I visit Korea and I do not make nearly what Kang makes!
What is the track record of MLB suspending players for incidents that do not take place on US soil?
Kang has done enough on US soil that they could always just pick one of those incidents instead. Guy should get at least a recreational drug suspension in my opinion, I think thats 50 games.
What has he done on US soil?
One could make the argument that his conduct – stateside or otherwise – violated the terms of his contract, provided the Pirates include such a personal conduct clause in their players’ contracts.
I don’t think they could do that with one DUI but who knows.
I’m sure he could. I’m just repeating what the Bucs have said, not making excuses for him. I’m not sure that the players union would agree that Skype is a substitute for a face meeting.
I’d like to know what he’s been charged with in the U.S. I know that there is an investigation into a reported sexual assault in Chicago, but it’s been 9 months and no charges brought. If he’s guilty in that or any other U.S. case then I agree with you completely, but I’m not aware of one.
Exactly.
Kang is doing fine! I just hired he and his crew to paint my house and so far it looks great!!
Why are people saying to suspend him,he did eight months for it and now you want him to pay another price when he gets over here,….wow that’s deep….he has been punished enough