The Rakuten Monkeys of the Chinese Professional Baseball League have signed left-hander Ryan Carpenter, as per the CPBL Stats website. Carpenter became a free agent after being released by the Tigers in September.
The 27-year-old southpaw has an 8.57 ERA, 2.35 K/BB rate, and 5.7 K/9 over 63 career innings in the majors, all with Detroit from 2018-19. Carpenter was bedeviled by the long ball during his brief time in the big leagues, allowing 20 homers over his 63 IP (an ugly 2.9 HR/9). Home runs weren’t nearly as big an issue for Carpenter over his 919 2/3 career minor league frames, as he had a moderate 1.0 HR/9 to go with a 4.48 ERA, 3.31 K/BB rate, and 7.9 K/9.
Originally a seventh-round pick for Tampa Bay in the 2011 draft, Carpenter pitched in the minors with the Rays, Rockies, and Tigers before getting his big league debut in 2018. He’ll now start a new chapter of his career overseas, joining former Major Leaguers Radhames Liz and Zeke Spruill on the Monkeys’ roster.
Rakuten has a CPBL team as well?
They just bought the team from Lamigo this past fall.
I wonder how much cash back Carpenter gets on his deal
Lol
Interesting career path for Carpenter. I only vaguely remember this league existing but I guess it’s the only option for a minor league journeyman that got rocked in his big league experience
Who knows? Maybe he actually won’t get lit up like a Christmas Tree over in the CPBL, but maybe he will.
Waoo can’t believe he is going to Taiwán a LHP if was a RHP will be ok
It’s not fair to him to share his ERA and other stats while playing for the Tigers. One of the worst defenses in the game and you want to shame this guy? Good luck in Japan though!
China.
Taiwan
The OG China…..
Tigers defense wasn’t that bad. Carpenter would have still had a bloated ERA even on the best defensive team. He is a AAA player and he would not have even been in the majors in a better organization.
When you allow, on average, 3 home runs per 9 innings pitched your defense can’t really help you much.
The Carpenters “we’ve only just begun” to the Monkees “I’m a believer “.
#fail. Major.
Tiger” staff “thought he wasn’t on a high enough “scale” , so they cut the” chord”.
I applaud you for doubling down with a pun
Clepto, the only “fail” here is you, for needlessly being rude.
Am I correct in reading that that league only have five teams in it?
It will have five teams soon if the Wei Chuan Dragons come back as planned.
Great that these players have a chance to play baseball somewhere.
Including the Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions!
I feel bad for whatever team signed him. Carpenter is complete garbage and shouldn’t have even sniffed the majors. He was by far the worst player on the worst team in the majors last season
Edwin Jackson will see you now
Tigers lost 4 starters last season, probably the big reason he was rushed. He filled some innings and gained some experience. Perhaps that will benefit him down the line.
‘How dare they’ call a team the Monkeys in Asia, this is culturally inappropriate and ‘racist’. I am sure all those that complain about the Braves and the Indians will be suitably outraged and offended. Indeed.
I appreciate your sarcasm. Sock Monkeys would have been better. no one would be outraged at that. ok maybe sock monkeys would be offended
It doesn’t work that way. If Native Americans owned the Braves and Indians, you might have a point. False equivalency, but why let facts and logic get in the way of your passionate defense of racism?
@MWeller77 Actually it does work that way for the determined to be offended, but don’t let facts & logic get in the way of your ‘false equivalency’ and outrageitis. “Passionate defence of racism”? You win first prize for one of the most idiotic comments on MLBTR in its history. Ensure in future that you wear a helmet when walking along hard surfaces to protect against more brain damage that is clearly evident already.
Carpenter seemed to pitch well in the games I listened to.
Taiwan national team is highly ranked in world baseball rankings.