The Astros, Brewers, Orioles, Twins, and Yankees are among the teams that have shown interest in the free agent southpaw. Kyle Hartaccording to The Athletic’s Will Samson and Katie Woo. Earlier this month, FanSided’s Robert Murray reported that at least 18 teams have entered into Hart’s services as he looks to return to North American baseball after a successful year with the NC Dinos of the Korean Baseball Organization.
Hart posted a 2.69 ERA, a 28.8% strikeout rate, and a six percent walk rate over 157 innings and 26 starts with the Dinos, winning the Dong-won Choi Award (answer to -KBO League in the Cy Young Award). Hart’s best pitch is his slider, but according to Eric Longenhagen of Fangraphs, Hart used that slider less as a primary offering and more as a chaser to get hitters off the ground. Longenhagen isn’t sure if Hart’s arsenal for this combine slide but only a 90mph fastball and good changeup will translate back to the big leagues, and thus Hart is projected as a fifth or sixth starter even if Fangraphs has him ranked 48th on their list of players. Top 50 offseason free agents.
The somewhat limited repertoire could be a problem if Hart works without the bullpen, of course, and Sammon and Woo noted that some MLB teams have considered Hart as a multi-inning pitcher. Whether he works as a starter, long reliever, or perhaps both in a swing role, there is a lot of upside if Hart, 32, can carry his KBO success back to the big leagues.
It’s not known if Hart really wants a chance to start in the majors or if he’s willing to take on any role, though five teams cited as scouts appear to have him as a reliever or pitcher, rather than an injury-prone future. or trading on an existing exchange. The Twins and Yankees are very thin on lefty bullpen options, which would make Hart very attractive to those clubs.
Hart’s previous Major League experience consists of just four appearances and 11 innings with the Red Sox in 2020, where he was hit hard with a 15.55 ERA over his few cups of coffee in the Show. A 19th-round pick by Boston in the 2016 draft, Hart pitched well in his taste of Triple-A ball in 2019, but has since struggled at the minor league level, with a 4.36 ERA over 334 2/3 innings at Triple-A. A of work. Hart spent his entire career with the Red Sox before joining the Mariners’ and Phillies’ Triple-A affiliates in 2023, then making the jump to the Dinos.
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