Matt Davidson has signed with the NC Dinos of the KBO League, reports Jeeho Yoo of Yonhap News. The infielder will have a salary of $560K, plus a $140K signing bonus and $300K of incentives.
Davidson, 33 in March, has received scattered MLB action, appearing in six seasons over the 2013 to 2022 timeframe. He played in 311 big league games over that decade-long stretch, suiting up for the Diamondbacks, White Sox, Reds and Athletics. He struck out in 34.3% of his plate appearances but also launched 54 home runs. The combined result was a .220/.290/.430 batting line and 93 wRC+.
His Triple-A track record has been much stronger, as he has hit .253/.335/.479 at that level over eight separate seasons, hitting 163 home runs in 3,236 plate appearances. That likely helped him secure a job in Japan last year, as he joined the Hiroshima Carp of Nippon Professional Baseball for the 2023 season. He hit 19 home runs in his 381 plate appearances for that club but his overall line of .210/.273/.425 suggests it was a power-only performance. He struck out in 31.5% of his trips to the plate last year while walking just 5.8% of the time.
Despite the strikeouts, Davidson’s power bat is clearly a threat and it has intrigued the Dinos. This will complete the club’s foreign player allotment, as KBO clubs are limited to three such slots. They previously signed pitchers Daniel Castano and Kyle Hart.
I would have thought that his 2023 stats would not be enough for a recall. They have to be a lot of AAA players willing to consider a decent NPB payday.
Not sure what you’re saying here, but looks like he’s moving from Japan to Korea, which is not surprising since Korean league is considered a notch below japan.
Yeah, I didn’t phrase that well at all. I meant to say his stats made it not surprising that he would not get a NPB recall, with many others clamoring to take his place. I follow some of the NPB stats, the KBO I usually first learn on this site.
NPB is way better than korea.
NPB is like if you took the 10 worst teams in mlb level. KBO is double A level at best.
Matty D is a solid dude and can rake!!!!!
Also, not a terrible pitcher!! He had a ton of potential and always seemed like a good dude. Wish him well.
Lots of power potential and not a lot else. Tried pitching, guess that didn’t work either. Still should hit plenty of bombs in the KBO
I’d say his chances at a return to the MLB are extinct.
Don’t listen to the rubbish coming from ‘Hamfighter’, that statement about KBO being “double A at best is asinine”. One must wonder how some MLB players have struggled at ‘double A KBO’, Addison Russell being one such example, he never hit over .300 at ‘double A KBO’.
The Japan league may be slightly superior due to there being more money available,
Since 2008 Japan Korea have played 20 times at national level, and Japan leads 12-8 h2h, hardly domination by Japan when Hamfighter asserts how superior it is to the KBO. Furthermore, it is ridiculous to compare NPB to MLB given the financial differences and financial clout of MLB teams, just a rubbish & nonsense post..
Would you consider NPB four A and KBO triple A? I believe Davidson will rake in Korea.
Addison Russell is a brother of Bauer ……..jettisoned off to a galaxy far far away……..
Maybe Addison can get together with Kap and swap notes about losing the opportunity to make millions of US dollars. At least Bauer go to fill his pockets before leaving.
@PutPeteinthehall
There is no comparison with Bauer to Russell.
Go and watch the interview, it was nothing except for the woman to attempt to extort and get money- a complete set-up, and she’s a total fraud and a liar… Bauer has never been in jail and is convicted of nothing.
I am not saying Bauer is totally without blame for his life choices and unusual actions-but making bad life choices is not a criminal offence the last time I looked. However, I believe he’s learned from his involvement in such activities, such as hooking up with people for certain activities from advertisements. I believe he learned a lot from his stint in Japan.
youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=fH3JWNVPG_Q
The Asian team names all sound like snacks.