The survival of foreign players from the KBO League in Major League Baseball is perilous. They receive notices of pending release from last-place teams and face the ordeal of being demoted to the minor leagues after just 1-2 games.

Outfielder Nick Martini (35), who played for the NC Dinos in 2022, was designated for assignment (DFA) by the Colorado Rockies on the 31st of last month (Korea time). Colorado removed Martini from the 40-man roster as they called up outfielder Sam Hilliard from Triple-A Albuquerque. If no team claims him during the waiver period, he will be classified as a minor leaguer. If he does not wish to go to the minors, he can become a free agent.

After signing a minor league contract with Colorado in January and using his performance in spring training as a springboard to make the opening roster, Martini put up a solid batting average of .318 (7 hits in 22 at-bats) with an OPS of .718 in his first 10 games, but it was short-lived. Facing primarily right-handed pitchers within a platoon system, he struggled with a batting average of .225 (23 hits in 102 at-bats), 1 home run, 4 RBIs, and an OPS of .582 in 43 games, ultimately leading to his DFA.

After playing for a year and leaving Korea, Martini got a big league opportunity with the Cincinnati Reds for the 2023-2024 season. He made an impact with 6 and 5 home runs in a short period, but he lacked consistency. He became a non-factor on a historically bad Colorado team with a record of 9 wins and 47 losses (winning percentage of .161), making it difficult for him to find reemployment in Major League Baseball.

On the same day, the New York Mets optioned left-handed pitcher Brandon Waddell (31) to Triple-A Syracuse. Right-handed pitcher Chris Devenski was called up, resulting in Waddell packing his bag in the locker room. Waddell, who had been called up on the 25th of last month, made a relief appearance as the second pitcher in the fourth inning against the Chicago White Sox while trailing 3-5, pitching 5 innings and allowing 7 hits (1 home run), 1 walk, 3 strikeouts, and 4 earned runs, but he had to return to the minor leagues after just one game.

Waddell played for the Doosan Bears from 2022 to 2024. He joined mid-season as a replacement player for two consecutive years and was part of the team from the start last year, but he missed the second half due to a shoulder injury. After leaving Korea, he signed a minor league contract with the Mets in December last year and successfully made his big league return on the 1st of last month against the Arizona Diamondbacks. He pitched well as the second pitcher in the third inning, going 4⅓ innings with 3 hits allowed, no walks, 4 strikeouts, and no earned runs, but he has repeatedly gone back to Triple-A after throwing just one game.

Right-handed pitcher Konnor Pilkington (29) of the Tampa Bay Rays is in a similar situation to Waddell. After shining as the ace for the Samsung Lions last year, he faced a long rehabilitation period due to injuries to his scapula and latissimus dorsi at the end of the season, and he returned to Canada during the fall baseball season, naturally resulting in his contract renewal not happening. He knocked on the door of Major League Baseball again after signing a minor league contract with Tampa Bay in February.

He successfully returned to the big leagues with a call-up on the 10th of last month, but had only 2 opportunities to pitch in 20 days, both in relief appearances. On the 17th against the Miami Marlins, he pitched 2⅔ innings, allowing 5 hits, 1 walk, 1 strikeout, and 1 earned run; on the 29th against the Minnesota Twins, he pitched 1 inning with 1 hit allowed, no walks, 1 strikeout, and no earned runs, recording an ERA of 2.45. Although he pitched well in both games under favorable conditions with a lead of 4-5 runs, he was demoted back to Triple-A Durham Bulls as pitcher Kevin Kelly, who was on the injured list for 15 days, recovered from buttock pain and needed the spot.

Although these players were treated as aces and key hitters in the KBO League, in Major League Baseball they are replaceable at any moment. The reality is they are used temporarily and expendably. Unless they have guaranteed contracts in Major League Baseball, it is difficult to escape the role of a stopgap player. They may miss the time in Korea when they received steady playing opportunities and financial compensation.

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