Former Mets pitcher Adonis Medina is close to heading to Korea and joining the Kia Tigers, according to MHN Sports (relayed by Sung Min Kim).
Medina, 26 later this month, pitched 23 2/3 innings for the Mets this year, striking out 15.5% of batters and walking 5.5% on the way to a 6.08 ERA. Advanced metrics looked upon his performance a little more favorably, with his FIP coming in at 4.04. He spent most of the season shuttling between the big leagues and Triple-A and was optioned nine times during the year. At Triple-A, he had a 4.65 ERA through 31 innings.
Signed out of the Dominican Republic by the Phillies back in 2014, he worked his way up through their minor league system before making his debut in 2020. Across 2020-21, Medina threw 11 2/3 innings for the Phillies for a 3.86 ERA.
The Pirates claimed him off waivers prior to the 2022 campaign, and spent the spring with Pittsburgh before they designated him for assignment at the start of the season and subsequently traded him to the Mets. The Mets outrighted him off the roster in September and he elected free agency at the end of the season.
Medina will head to the KBO young enough that a strong season or two over there could stand him in good stead to return to the States and seek big league deals in the future.
Adonis “Funky Cold” Medina had some very good outings for the Mets. The tenth inning save in LA is what most remember, but one that was equally important was when he pitched 2-1/3 innings of shutout ball against the Phillies that set the stage for the incredible comeback down 7-1 at the top of the ninth.
Well, looks like Kia is going the cheap route after all. A little surprised that they couldn’t get either of Nolin or Pannone to stay unless they’ve got NPB offers.
really wish they would add a guys velo as 1 of the metrics listed. I’m always curious to know and it’s certainly pertinent to what kind of interest and earning potential a pitcher gets overseas and otherwise
Best of luck overseas.