Burch Smith (34), who left the KBO League Hanwha Eagles after being released due to injury after one game, is back in the Major League. This time, he was called up wearing Baltimore Orioles uniform, a strong team that ranks first in the American League East.
Baltimore called up right-hander Smith by sending right-hander Dylan Dating to Triple-A Norfolk tights ahead of the Chicago Cubs on the 12th (Korea Standard Time). Smith, who signed a minor league contract with Baltimore on the 28th of last month, was called by the Major League in two weeks.
Smith signed a minor league contract with the Tampa Bay Rays in January this year and was traded to the Miami Marlins ahead of the opening of the season in late March. Miami, which has been keeping an eye on Smith, has offered cash to Tampa Bay on the condition that it be included in the 40-man roster.
Smith pitched 29 ⅔ innings in 25 games, recording 21 wins and 1 hold with 4.25 strikeouts. His superficial record is not that bad, but his WHIP (1.62) and hit rate (.322) were high.
His time at the Miami Marlins did not last long. He lost points in three consecutive games in June, collapsing to five runs in four ⅓ innings, and his transfer was processed on June 15. As no team was assigned to him while paying the remaining salary during the waivers, he was completely released.
In the meantime, Smith, who chose to go to the minor league instead on the condition that he would be compensated for $1 million in salary while meeting his five-year service time, continued his career with a minor contract with Baltimore. In both games of Triple-A Norfolk, he allowed one hit, one walk, two strikeouts and no runs in two innings, and Smith received a call-up from Baltimore as the Tate collapsed with six runs in three games, four innings in July.
While Miami (32-61-loss winning percentage, .644), which ranks fifth in the National League East, is lagging behind other players, it is surprising that the team has re-employed as the No. 1 team. Baltimore has been ranking first in the AL East with 57 wins and 36 losses this season, but its earned run average in relief is still on the league average with 14th place (3.86). With its bullpen weakened recently, it called up Smith, who signed a minor contract to reinforce the depth of the team.
Baltimore Manager Brandon Hyde said, “Tate needs a little reset, but I’m glad Smith has joined us. Securing a new bullpen is also important. Smith is an experienced player and pitched well in Norfolk for a few games. It’s important to add a new pitcher.”
Smith also briefly played in Korea, but left with only bad memories. He received 1 million U.S. dollars (down payment of 100,000 dollars, annual salary of 700,000 dollars, incentive) for a new foreign player, and sought to be the first starter for Hanwha, but the game ended in just one game. He secured 800,000 dollars in guarantees through just one game.
Smith, who voluntarily left the mound in the third inning against Kiwoom in Gocheok on April 1 last year due to shoulder pain, was found to have micro-damaged shoulder muscles that were not significantly affected by the pitch. He played catch while receiving injection treatment, but failed to go any further, and the glass-body temperament that continued throughout his career broke out in just one game in Korea. 토토사이트
Hanwha, which had fallen to the bottom since the beginning of the season, could not afford to wait long for Smith. After releasing Smith early on April 19, the Hanwha Eagles recruited left-hander Ricardo Sanchez as an alternative foreign player. Smith’s performance in Korea was all he had in the second ⅔ of the opening game, when 60 pitches, three hits, one strikeout, two strikeouts, and two runs scored. Disappointed at the result, when Hanwha fans visited his SNS account and criticized him, Smith left a message saying, “Take care in a trash country.” As the team was released after just one game, Smith had to leave bitterly, leaving a controversy over his defamation of Korea.