Doosan announced the signing of former Oakland right-hander Raul Alcantara, according to Dan Kurtz of MyKBO. Alcantara pitched for Doosan in 2020, but has spent the last few seasons playing in Japan. He’ll earn an $800K base salary in addition to a $100K signing bonus.
Originally signed by the Red Sox out of the Dominican Republic back in 2009, Alcantara went to Oakland in a late-December trade in 2011. He came up through their system putting up solid numbers as a starter, and got his first opportunity with the big league club in 2016.
He limped to a 7.25 ERA in five starts that year, posting a sound 3.6% walk rate but a well below average 13.6% strikeout rate, while giving up nine home runs in 22 1/3 innings pitched. He’d get another stint in the majors the following year, posting a 7.13 ERA in eight appearances (four starts) over 24 innings, with an 11.1% strikeout and walk rate.
After being released by Oakland in 2018, Alcantara headed to the KBO to first sign with the KT Wiz and then Doosan in 2020. That 2020 campaign brought about a lot of success, as Alcantara threw 198 2/3 innings of 2.54 ERA ball, striking out 22.9% of batters against a 3.8% walk rate. He’d then go to Japan to work as a reliever for Hanshin, tossing 97 2/3 innings over two years for a 3.96 ERA.
The 30-year-old will now return to Korea and look to rediscover the form that made him one of the best starters in the league there in 2020.
Let’s go Doosan Bears, let’s go!!!
I liked Raul.
Doosan GM’s first thought when he realizes his mistake, thinking he had the coup of the century signing Sandy at a discount: “O crap.”
KBO is just a great place to earn a great living out AAAA minor leaguers and many of them develop into solid major leaguers. Korea is really an awesome place to live for few yrs.
Im surprised no one gave him a chance in the majors again after his 2020 year in Korea. To put up those numbers in the massively hitter friendly Korean league is crazy.