• Center-infielder Hyeseong Kim desires to signal with an MLB group after taking part in within the KBO final season.
Infielder Hyeseong Kim, who stars for the Korea Baseball Group’s Kiwoom Heroes, has employed CAA Baseball to signify him forward of his anticipated transfer to Main League Baseball within the upcoming offseason, experiences Jeeho Yoo of South Korea’s Yonhap Information Company. (Kim’s identify is usually written as Kim Hye-Seong or Hye-Seong Kim, however Yoo additional notes through X that CAA particularly knowledgeable him the infielder will go by Hyeseong Kim if he certainly strikes to North American ball.)
Kim, who’ll flip 26 subsequent January, is sufficiently old and has sufficient expertise in a significant international league to be thought of a “skilled” beneath Main League Baseball’s worldwide requirements. He’ll be exempt from worldwide beginner free-agent bonus swimming pools and thus in a position to signal a significant league contract for any size and greenback quantity with an group.
The previous double-play accomplice of present Padres infielder Ha-Seong Kim 김하성, the youthful Kim is a lifetime .301/.361/.398 hitter in 876 video games with the KBO’s Heroes.
…Previous to the 2023 World Baseball Basic, Baseball America’s Kyle Glaser ranked Kim ninth among the many top-ten MLB prospects for followers to trace (touchdown behind present large leaguers Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Jung Hoo Lee 이정후 and Yariel Rodriguez). Glaser referred to as Kim a plus defender at second base (and a succesful defender at brief) with a “preternatural really feel for contact,” good pitch recognition and the flexibility to catch as much as good velocity. On the very least, he may profile as a utilityman with high-end velocity and phone abilities, although it ought to come as little shock if there are golf equipment who view him as a possible common at second base. Given his age, Kim ought to discover large league curiosity — significantly if he can proceed his newfound energy output.
American League
Angels
• Logan O’Hoppe handled sore knees to finish the season.
O’Hoppe has additionally already emerged as one of many membership’s key leaders and has labored to earn the belief of the membership’s pitchers. He stated throughout the season his objective was to attempt to catch 150 video games, however Washington and the coaches had to assist rein him in a bit. However his eagerness to play and catch as a lot as doable, whereas additionally coping with knee soreness down the stretch, is one thing that didn’t go unnoticed by his teammates.
Athletics
• The group will now play on a grass discipline in Sacramento subsequent season.
The nomadic Athletics will play residence video games on grass as they transfer from Oakland to Sacramento subsequent season slightly than the substitute turf initially deliberate at Sutter Well being Park.
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“In mild of the gamers’ clear desire for pure grass, and after weighing with the MLBPA the potential dangers and advantages of sustaining pure grass versus changing the taking part in floor with artificial turf, all of the events are aligned in shifting ahead with a pure grass discipline for opening day 2025,” MLB stated in an announcement Monday.
Blue Jays
• Orelvis Martinez will play within the Dominican Winter League to make-up for missed time.
Coming off his 80-game suspension for PEDs, Martinez’s commerce worth took successful since there can be questions on his efficiency, so the Blue Jays are higher off seeing what they’ve than promoting low. He nonetheless ranks as their prime hitting prospect, however the Blue Jays must see him make strides defensively at second and third base to earn a job in 2025. He’s on Licey within the Dominican Winter League and can have a chance to make up for among the taking part in time he misplaced to the suspension.
In a single recreation thus far, Martinez has performed at third base.
Guardians
• David Fry would possibly want elbow surgical procedure.
David Fry will go to with Dr. Keith Meister about his proper elbow subsequent week in Dallas. Fry injured the elbow in late June, which restricted his defensive versatility for the remainder of the season. He admitted to The Athletic throughout the ALCS that if the necessity arose, he may catch for a few innings, however the harm hampered his capability to throw. He caught as soon as in July however by no means once more after July 23. He and the group had been imprecise in regards to the harm, maybe to protect a aggressive benefit in case they wanted him in a pinch. Meister, for what it’s value, continuously performs Tommy John surgical procedures.
Orioles
• Jordan Westburg wasn’t fully healed within the postseason.
The 25-year-old is extraordinarily considerate, and answered actually earlier than Recreation 1 of the Wild Card collection if he felt he was prepared after such a very long time away.
“I really feel good. I don’t assume that I’m like 100%, proper,” he stated. “Form of didn’t have the buildup {that a} regular harm would however I’m ok. I’m excited to be again. I’m able to be again. Adrenaline does loads of wonders for the physique and I’m certain it’s going to kick in much more on this collection.
“So I’m blissful to be again. I’m excited to be again. I’m going to play as laborious as I can, understanding that, you recognize, there may not be a tomorrow, and my hand can put up with that. Simply going to take at some point at a time. Probably not — it’s not one thing that I take into consideration on the texture. So it’s not going to have an effect on my efficiency, I don’t assume.”
Crimson Sox
• Masataka Yoshida had surgical procedure on his shoulder.
The Crimson Sox are concentrating on an Opening Day return for Yoshida. https://t.co/DLoTusTUmg
— Ian Browne (@IanMBrowne) October 16, 2024
Twins
• For the primary time since 2017, Byron Buxton began the offseason “wholesome”.
This time, there is not going to be a restoration from a shoulder surgical procedure, or one other knee surgical procedure, or relaxation and restoration from another season-ending ailment. Buxton’s knee ended the season in an honest place of administration, he famous, and he didn’t anticipate any important well being concerns for his programming as he returned residence to Georgia together with his household.
“I believe it’s a great basis to construct on — that he can go into an offseason not understanding he’s bought a surgical procedure across the nook and desires to come back again from that, and that’s large,” president of baseball operations Derek Falvey stated. “I believe that’s going to present him a full offseason of labor and improvement — and what that appears like, that’s superior.”
What Buxton actually needed of himself on the finish of the season was two issues: He needed to cross the 100-game threshold for the primary time since 2017, and he needed to complete the season wholesome.
• High prospect, Emmanuel Rodriguez, would possibly want thumb surgical procedure this offseason.
His return from the primary and second of his thumb accidents was once more halted after seven video games with one other thumb flare-up that sidelined him for good on Sept. 2. The Twins final indicated an offseason process could also be on the desk for Rodriguez, however he ought to be in place to start out ‘25 in Triple-A, with a doable opening in a corner-outfield spot created by Max Kepler’s departure.
“Often, you’ll assume for a left-handed hitter — should you get jammed lots or in any other case and you’ve got that sort of ache in your thumb — it’s often your prime thumb,” president of baseball operations Derek Falvey stated. “His is [the] backside hand, exterior, which is only a bizarre location to have that form of soreness.”
White Sox
• Yoán Moncada will attempt to rebuild his worth taking part in for the Cuban Nationwide group.
Sources: Yoan Moncada determined to take part within the Premier 12 with Cuba in current hours and can quickly be part of to the group in South Korea.
Moncada, 29, is within the means of getting his visa to the Asian nation. pic.twitter.com/o1bekkyR57
— Francys Romero (@francysromeroFR) October 16, 2024
Yankees
• Late within the season, Clay Holmes adjusted his sinker grip.
Late within the season, Holmes gave the impression to be trusting his slider greater than his sinker, however he noticed enchancment after adjusting his sinker grip in September. Yankees reliever Tommy Kahnle recognized Holmes reincorporating his four-seam fastball, a long-shelved providing that has re-appeared throughout the playoffs, as one other key to his turnaround.
“He simply stored engaged on his craft, stored getting every little thing form of again into rhythm,” Kahnle stated. “I believe an enormous factor was getting his fastball again and utilizing his fastball extra. I do know we had been attempting to get him to make use of it extra. And I really feel like over the past month-ish, he’s gone again to his heater, and he’s even been throwing four-seam fastballs, which has been superb.”
Nationwide League
Cardinals
• Thomas Saggese solely desires to hit flyballs.
Thomas Saggese: “I believe my finest swings simply occur to be balls within the air. I really feel like I get the ball within the air fairly effectively and might hit some homers. I don’t assume it’s going to be something loopy, however I want to hit 20 a yr — .300 with 20 homers yearly. That’s form of my objective.”
Possibly the man ranked 495th of 548 batters in HardHit% (25.7% HH%) shouldn’t put every little thing within the air. With this strategy, he’s going for the lose/lose strategy of no residence runs and little batting common.
• Masyn Winn had surgical procedure to take away a cyst from his hand.
#STLCards POBO John Mozeliak stated SS Masyn Winn had a surgical process to take away a cyst from his hand. Winn, who moved to Jupiter, Fla. to spend his offseasons close to the spring HQ, was scheduled to have the stitches eliminated final week. The process will not influence his offseason.
— John Denton (@JohnDenton555) October 22, 2024
• Lance Lynn expects to have a traditional offseason.
A pair of IL stints as a consequence of proper knee irritation restricted to Lance Lynn to simply two begins over the past two months of the season, however Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Submit-Dispatch writes that Lynn is feeling higher “and expects to have a traditional offseason of preparation.”
Cubs
• Nico Hoerner had forearm surgical procedure …
Chicago Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner underwent flexor tendon surgical procedure after the season, the group introduced Monday. Hoerner skilled discomfort in his proper forearm for a good portion of the season, and his basic timeline for subsequent yr will depend upon how he’s progressing as soon as he experiences for spring coaching in Arizona, in response to sources.
… and his return timeline is unclear with him probably returning effectively into the common season.
As for timeline, the phrase is … there isn’t one. Per The Tribune and The Athletic, the Cubs aren’t going to develop a exact timeline till Hoerner experiences to Spring Coaching subsequent yr. It’s going to depend upon how he’s progressing in his restoration within the interim.
You could find restoration instances on flexor tendon surgical procedure starting from six months to 12 months relying on the place you look and the character of the participant’s harm, however these are all pitchers and catchers, so I believe we’re simply going to must take care of an entire lot of uncertainty right here relating to a second baseman. It sounds prefer it’s doable Hoerner will get one thing of a inexperienced mild in February or March to start out a traditional season ramp-up. It additionally sounds prefer it’s doable that’s when everybody concerned lays out a timetable that extends effectively into the common season. That half is all guesswork proper now. The one semi-sure factor is that we’re most likely not going to know rather more till January/February on the earliest.
• Jameson Taillon desires so as to add velocity this offseason.
“Undoubtedly pleased with the workload,” Taillon stated after his twenty eighth and closing begin this yr. “I’m undoubtedly extra snug right here. I do know my means across the locker room. I do know the employees and stadium staff extra. I do know my path to the ballpark. All that stuff does matter.
…
“This offseason, I undoubtedly need to well discover methods to achieve some velocity again. (I’ll) present as much as spring coaching able to do my job, but in addition be a pacesetter and lead by instance. And hopefully influence among the youthful gamers that I do know we have now arising.”
Taillon’s fastball has misplaced about 2 mph because the begin of the 2023 season.
And to no shock, the pitch misses extra bats the more durable it’s thrown.
Mets
• Paul Blackburn had again surgical procedure.
Mets RHP Paul Blackburn underwent a CSF (cerebrospinal fluid) leak restore on Oct 11. The return to play for such a process is 4-5 months, the Mets say.
— Will Sammon (@WillSammon) October 22, 2024
• David Stearns had an end-of-season press convention and listed here are my notes from it.
🚨 LIVE 🚨
David Stearns holds his finish of season media availability from Citi Subject https://t.co/gDkUkoa1yC
— SNY (@SNYtv) October 23, 2024
Notes:
David Peterson, Tylor Megill, and José Buttó can be thought of for the rotation or the bullpen. No roles are set simply but.
Ronny Mauricio: Must do baseball actions. Restoration is slower than anticipated.
Brett Baty’s position will not be but decided due to his capability to play a number of positions. I’m unsure about the entire multiple-position factor. He has solely performed third base within the minors and majors this season. Over his whole minor and main league profession, he’s performed simply 30 video games in left discipline over 4 seasons.
Blade Tidwell and Nolan McLean had been talked about first as prime pitching prospects to contribute subsequent season. Each Dom Hamel and Mike Vasil lacked the consistency to be choices.
He most popular to make use of a six-day rotation for the additional relaxation particularly when requested a query on Kodai Senga.
Nationals
Padres
• Luis Arraez wanted surgical procedure on his thumb.
Right now, I underwent surgical procedure on my thumb after pushing by an injured half of the season. Regardless of the ache, I continued to play, but it surely turned clear that surgical procedure was needed to completely get better. The process went easily, and I’m now centered on therapeutic and getting again🦾🙏🏽🚿 pic.twitter.com/pd1bP93N2d
— Luis Arraez (@Arraez_21) October 16, 2024
• Ha-Seong Kim is not going to be prepared for Opening Day.
However on Monday, Preller acknowledged that Kim is unlikely to be prepared for Opening Day after present process shoulder surgical procedure. Staff officers, in the meantime, usually are not particularly optimistic that Kim will decide up his finish of an $8 million mutual possibility. The probabilities of the clubhouse favourite signing elsewhere appear sturdy, particularly since Kim employed Scott Boras as his agent.
Phillies
• J.T. Realmuto can be restricted to about 100 video games catching subsequent season.
It’s most likely time for Realmuto to be nearer to 100 video games began than 130 — his annual goal. How will the Phillies persuade him of this?
“I’m unsure but,” supervisor Rob Thomson stated this week.
He smiled.
The Phillies know the way a lot satisfaction Realmuto takes in being reliable. He’s getting into the ultimate yr of a five-year, $115.5 million contract. His .751 OPS in 2024 was his lowest since his rookie season in 2015, though Realmuto stays one of many higher offensive performers on the sport’s most difficult place.
“In the event you give J.T. some extra break day,” Thomson stated, “I believe his numbers will get higher.”
Just one catcher previously decade has began 120 video games behind the plate at age 34 or older: Yadier Molina in 2018. There have been eight situations since 2010 of a 34-or-older catcher beginning at the least 115 video games.
• Rafael Marchán is being thought of because the backup catcher.
However Marchán, who turns 26 in February, can’t be despatched to the minors in 2025. Stubbs, a great defender who has not hit previously two seasons as Realmuto’s main backup, is eligible for wage arbitration however has a minor-league possibility remaining.…“We like Marchán lots,” president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski stated. “We expect he’s an actual good catcher. He’s proven some offensive prowess additionally. … He’s had loads of accidents, however when he’s performed, he’s performed very effectively. So I believe we have now some individuals able to doing that internally. However I can’t let you know that they’ll be for certain given the job. We simply must hold an open thoughts as we discover that this wintertime.”
• Taijuan Walker can be on an offseason conditioning program and isn’t assured a rotation spot subsequent season.
Taijuan Walker will spend the offseason on what Dombrowski described as a “very detailed program” for his throwing and conditioning. The Phillies will resume the weighted-ball plan they tried throughout the summer season. At this level, they may reserve judgment on Walker till they see him in February in Florida.
“I believe he’ll come to spring coaching with us subsequent yr, however he’s not assured a beginning spot,” Dombrowski stated. “I don’t assume I can simply say, ‘You’re our fifth starter.’ I believe he would come to camp and be in a battle to attempt to win a spot within the rotation.”
• Andrew Painter may not contribute within the majors till June or July.
Whoever wins the No. 5 job could possibly be a placeholder till Andrew Painter is able to pitch within the majors. That may not be till June or July if the Phillies delay the beginning of his season to handle his innings. They know they’ll want greater than 5 – 6 starters to outlive 162 video games. This can be one of many larger spring storylines.
• The group is keen for his or her hitters to sacrifice some energy for extra contact.
“One factor I would love us to do, and that’s going to fall into (hitting coach) Kevin Lengthy’s palms: I actually would love us to make use of the entire discipline just a little bit extra at instances,” Dombrowski stated. “We turned a pull-oriented membership at instances an excessive amount of for me. Within the postseason, whenever you have a look at it, loads of our hits didn’t come the alternative means. And that’s one thing we’ve already talked about ourselves. Now, the hitters have to purchase into that, too. They must be in that place.”
If applied, this may run counter to trendy baseball developments. Groups have valued pull-side energy as a result of it’s the place probably the most reward lies. This season, the league had a .689 slugging proportion on balls hit to the pull facet with a .435 slugging proportion on balls hit straightaway and to the alternative discipline. Groups do much less injury when utilizing the entire discipline.
Possibly a contact-based strategy is returning to baseball. The run-scoring atmosphere throughout the game is depressed. This stuff have a tendency to maneuver in cycles. It seems like a novel strategy; making use of it to a lineup of established hitters who are sometimes cussed of their methods is a problem.
….
However to the Phillies, Schwarber epitomizes the lineup splendid. He went to work final offseason to chop down on his strikeouts. He raised his batting common by 51 factors. He improved in opposition to lefties as a result of he used the entire discipline. That, nevertheless, compelled him to sacrifice some energy.
It’s a commerce the Phillies will ask their hitters to make.
• Andrew Painter is averaging 97 mph within the AFL by including a second more durable slider and dumping his sweeper.
The 22-year-old touched 99.2 mph and averaged 97.1 mph together with his 19 heaters, up a tick from his 96.8 common in his earlier Desert Canine outing on June 18. Painter additionally spun six curveballs within the 80-82 mph vary, giving him an possibility within the decrease zone that complemented the rising fastball — and he didn’t want his changeup with eight righty hitters within the Rafters lineup.
However there’s additionally a comparatively new pitch in Painter’s repertoire that has piqued curiosity in Arizona — a pointy upper-80s providing that wants some clarification on its classification.
“It’s a slider,” Painter stated. “It’s the identical pitch, identical grip, only a completely different thought course of. One in all them, the slower one, is for a strike more often than not. After I get to 2 strikes, it’s the identical grip, however I’m simply considering to go gloveside away to a righty and in on a lefty. I’m simply considering extra heater with it. Similar grip although.”
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Painter was working with two slider varieties — one within the higher 80s that bit laborious and one other within the low 80s with extra sweep. Following the highest Phillies pitching prospect’s rehab work, the sweeper has been left behind.
“That’s now not within the arsenal,” he stated.
• The group is contemplating resting its gamers extra.
[Dave Dombrowski has] questioned if fatigue hampered the Phillies in July and August. He would possibly pad the hitters’ schedules with extra relaxation to start the season.
• Trea Turner will stay at shortstop subsequent season.
A number of questions centered on Trea Turner’s play at shortstop, and his inconsistencies on the plate. Dombrowski made it crystal clear that Turner would be the group’s shortstop in 2025, following exterior hypothesis that the Phils may transfer him to a unique place as they attempt to improve their lineup.
• Johan Rojas will attempt to enhance his hitting this offseason.
Rojas performed above-average protection in heart discipline, however he didn’t produce sufficient offensively. He’ll spend the offseason in Clearwater, Fla., attempting to enhance his offense.
Pirates
• The group has religion in Braxton Ashcraft as a significant league starter.
“I believe very first thing is simply need to get [Braxton Ashcraft] feeling good bodily and wholesome,” Ben basic supervisor Cherington stated in September. “He was clearly displaying us this yr that he could possibly be a Main League starter. I believe we felt strongly about that. I believe so long as we consider that and see these abilities, [we] need to give that each likelihood to occur.”
Reds
• Connor Phillips‘ fastball velocity was up about 1 mph (96.5 mph to 97.5 mph) within the AFL whereas not bettering his command (6.9 BB/9 in AAA).
The Reds despatched a number of large leaguers right here to rehab from accidents, together with Connor Phillips, who was 96-99 with an above-average slider at 85-86 and completely no command.
Rockies
• The group plans on reducing payroll earlier than subsequent season.
In an article earlier immediately analyzing the Rockies’ plans for the upcoming offseason, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Submit reported that the membership intends to decrease their payroll headed into the 2025 marketing campaign. Per Saunders, these plans to decrease payroll include an expectation that the membership will store second baseman Brendan Rodgers, lefty starter Austin Gomber, and righty starter Cal Quantrill on the commerce market this winter.
