Chris Paddack’s latest stop has taken him overseas.
After a brief run with the Rangers, the right-hander has signed with the Samsung Lions of the KBO League in South Korea, according to Ilyo Shinumun. Paddack had been outrighted to Triple-A Round Rock after clearing waivers and then elected free agency.
His Texas stint barely had time to breathe. Paddack made one start for the Rangers and gave them four innings of work in a 6-3 win over the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on Monday, June 29. He allowed two earned runs and seven hits in that outing, which helped Texas at a moment when it needed pitching depth after Jack Leiter landed on the IL with an ankle injury that required surgery.
That one appearance ended up being the whole story in Texas. The Rangers designated Paddack for assignment the very next day, and given the shape of his season, it wasn’t a shocking call. He posted a 6.79 ERA across 57 innings in MLB this year.
The Rangers were the third team Paddack pitched for this season and the fifth over the last 12 months. Minnesota dealt him to the Detroit Tigers at last season’s deadline.
In the offseason, he signed a one-year, $4 million deal with the Miami Marlins, but Miami cut ties in early May. After clearing waivers and choosing free agency, he landed with the Cincinnati Reds, where he lasted about five weeks before another DFA opened the door for Texas to add him.
Paddack has been around the league for eight years now. He broke in with the San Diego Padres in 2019 and stayed there through the 2021 season before San Diego traded him and right-hander Emilio Pagán to Minnesota on April 7, 2022, for left-hander Taylor Rogers, outfielder Brent Rooker and a player to be named later, right-hander Brayan Medina. Injuries, including a UCL tear, have followed him during his time with the Twins before the move to Detroit.
Over his MLB career, Paddack owns a 4.83 ERA in 638 2/3 innings. Now he’ll try to reset in the KBO, where a strong showing with the Lions could put him back on the radar for another MLB opportunity down the line.
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