Right-handed pitcher Robert Stock is close to signing with the Doosan Bears of the Korea Baseball Organization, reports Daniel Kim, relaying information from Korean media organizations. He says that there is no official deal just yet but that it “sounds close”.
Stock was selected by St. Louis in the second round of the 2009 draft but didn’t make his MLB debut until 2018, spending time in the organizations of the Cardinals, Pirates and Reds before finally making it to the show with the Padres. In addition to the Padres, Stock has seen some MLB action with the Red Sox, Cubs and Mets over the past four seasons. (He was also claimed by the Phillies after the 2019 season but was designated for assignment before the 2020 season began.) He has 72 2/3 MLB innings under his belt, with an ERA of 4.71, strikeout rate of 23.1% and walk rate of 12.2%.
In 2021, he was only able to throw nine total innings in the big leagues over three starts, putting up an ERA of 8.00. But in 35 1/3 Triple-A innings, he had a 3.57 ERA, along with a very good strikeout rate of 26.2% and walk rate of 8.1%. He was with the Mets when a hamstring strain landed him on the IL in July, an injury that ended his season. He was outrighted off the roster in October and elected free agency.
After years off bouncing from team to team and from the minors to the majors, Stock, 32, now seems to be heading for a job in Korea that will likely provide him more regular playing time and better pay than he would have received with another season as a journeyman in North America. If he is able to thrive in this new opportunity, he could always return to MLB with increased interest from clubs, as many other have done in recent years. As mentioned by Kim, the Bears signed Chris Flexen a couple of years ago, who pitched well enough to garner a two-year contract from the Mariners prior to the 2021 season.
Who will make the first Stock rising or falling joke? Your go….
I was going to say that his stuff is not Untouchable.
We’ll see how many are old enough to get that.
Wednesday nights. 9:00PM., ABC… intro by Walter Winchell…dad had to watch it every week. And of course in those days, only one TV (child abuse). .
Yeah but was your nickname “The Clicker” because he made you turn the channels… or adjust the rabbit ears? UHF vs. VHF? 19″ Zenith… and it still works great. Good stuff, happy 2022 gents!
@ahh: Lame. The actor was Robert STACK.
I came here looking for an Untouchables, Unsolved Mysteries or Ultra Magnus reference.
This will do.
The market on this Stock is bearish.
just another chapter in an already odd baseball journey.
Mets claimed him last season from Cubs. This was
after he made his only appearance for the Cubs against the Mets. Got shelled. Tells how desperate the Mets were for pitching last season. Uncle Steve better get his checkbook out fast once the lock out is over.
Isn’t he the creepy host of Unsolved Mysteries?
Robert Stack
Rabert Stock
Great guy on twitter. Hope he can have maybe a one or two season layover in Korea and can come back and have a good time in his mid to late thirties in the majors. He’s always had the stuff for the majors but never seems to have the confidence.
Interesting idea, would love to see him start in the KBO. Not sure how well he would do but I think he’ll do better than Ronnie Williams.
With all these players signing to play overseas, I can’t help but wonder if this lock out might last longer than I’d hoped.
its the same number as normal
It’s the same number as always. Just being reported now because of the lack if mlb news. Its funny how morons operate
Had they let him pitch earlier instead of keeping him at catcher for 3 years after being drafted, his career may have progressed very defirrently. Cards have a knack for waiting alittle long. Motte was another
his College hitting stats werent even that good as well. never made sense.
Robert going to the KBO to rebuild his Stock….I’ll show myself out now.