Chris Flexen (29‧Seattle), who played for Doosan in the KBO League in 2020, is a typical reverse export success story. He signed a three-year contract with Seattle ahead of the 2021 season, and has put himself in a position to make the ‘big time’ after performing well in both the starting and bullpen roles over the past two years.

Flexen’s 2023 contract with Seattle was automatically extended based on his performance over the past two years. Flexen is making $8 million this year and is eligible for free agency after this season. In 64 games (53 starts) over the past two years, Flexen has posted a respectable 22-15 record with a 3.66 ERA. It was the kind of performance that would have earned him an A-level contract, if not an S-level one. He wasn’t old.

But last year, when the team acquired Luis Castillo at the trade deadline, his position became untenable. He was relegated to the bullpen and finished the season. Flexen had two more chances. But he couldn’t convert either.

In spring training, Flexen was in contention for a five-man roster spot, but he lost out. His last chance came when the team’s left-handed ace, Robbie Ray, was sidelined with an elbow injury. But he didn’t perform well in the starting rotation. And with the arrival of the “greatest rookie of all time,” the door seems to be closing.메이저놀이터

Bryce Miller, 25, is the hottest player in baseball these days, and not just in Seattle. He dominates hitters with a powerful fastball rather than a changeup. He’s a nostalgic throwback to the fastballs of yesteryear. This is because he has such a powerful delivery.

He”s not a player that”s been properly analysed yet, but his first five starts have been nothing short of spectacular. No other pitcher in Major League Baseball history has had such a strong debut. If he were a member of a national favourite like the New York Yankees or Los Angeles Dodgers, he’d be making a lot more noise than he is.

In his first five games of the season, Miller went 3-1 with a 1.15 ERA in 31⅓ innings pitched. In all five games, he went at least six innings and allowed three earned runs or less to earn a quality start. It’s the metrics that surprise. Aside from his low ERA, batters are having a hard time getting on base against Miller.

In 31 1/3 innings, Miller has allowed 13 hits, three walks, and one hit-by-pitch. He has 17 strikeouts and a WHIP of just 0.51. In over 100 years of Major League Baseball history, no player has ever pitched 30 innings in their first five games and walked 26 or fewer batters. Miller has done it.

Miller is a player the team has built for the long haul, and now he’s in the starting rotation. There’s no reason not to use a prospect with a good track record. At some point, he’ll be able to manage innings, but for now, Flexen will have to rely on him out of the bullpen.

He’ll likely get another chance if another pitcher struggles, but his track record isn’t that great. In 11 games (four starts) this year, he has four losses with no wins and a 6.32 ERA. He’ll need to perform well to be traded to a team in need of a starter at the July trade deadline, and I’m not sure he’ll be able to do that right now. It’s a bad time to be a free agent.