Last year, left-handed pitcher Kyle Hart (33, San Diego Padres), who also won the 'Choi Dong-won Award' while playing for the NC Dinos in the KBO League, is being battered in the minor leagues as well. The joy of returning to Major League Baseball is short-lived, as his contract worth $5 million (about 700 million won) next year is at risk of disappearing.
After being sent down to the Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas under San Diego, Hart started in a Triple-A game against the Reno Aces (Arizona Diamondbacks) on the 23rd (Korean time) at Southwest University Park in El Paso, Texas. He collapsed, allowing 9 runs (7 earned) on 9 hits, 1 walk, 1 hit batter, and 1 strikeout over 4 innings, becoming the losing pitcher.
Hart allowed 3 runs after giving up two consecutive doubles in a 2-out, 1st and 2nd base crisis in the 1st inning, and then gave up 4 more runs in the 2nd inning. After a hit by pitch and a wild pitch, he allowed an RBI hit for additional runs, then gave up two consecutive RBI hits with 2 outs and runners on 1st and 2nd base. In a continued 2-out, 1st and 3rd base situation, he committed a balk, quickly recording 7 runs.
He managed to go without allowing a run in the 3rd inning, but defensive errors in the 4th inning led to 2 additional runs. He threw a total of 62 pitches, featuring 5 types of pitches: changeup (19), sinker (17), four-seam fastball (11), slider (9), and sweeper (6). The maximum speed of the sinker was 93.3 mph (150.2 km/h), and the average speed of the four-seam fastball was 91 mph (146.5 km/h).
As of that day, Hart's Triple-A season record stood at 8 games (38⅓ innings) with a record of 2 wins and 3 losses and an earned run average of 4.93, with 30 strikeouts, which is not good. He began the season in the starting rotation on the San Diego opening roster, but he was sent down to Triple-A twice through minor options at the end of April and May. After his second demotion, his performance in 4 Triple-A games (18⅔ innings) has worsened, with no wins and a record of 3 losses, an earned run average of 7.71, and 14 strikeouts.
Building on his performance in the KBO League, Hart signed a guaranteed one-year contract worth $1.5 million with San Diego in mid-February, with conditions for up to $8.5 million over two years. He celebrated a joyful victory with 5 innings, allowing 2 hits (2 home runs), 1 walk, and 4 strikeouts while allowing 2 earned runs in his first start of the season on April 1 against the Cleveland Guardians. However, the joy did not last long.
In the first 5 games of the season through April (21 innings), he struggled with a record of 2 wins and 2 losses and an earned run average of 6.00. After being sent down to Triple-A, he returned on the 29th of last month for a game against the Miami Marlins but struggled again, allowing 5 runs over 4⅔ innings with 6 hits (2 home runs), no walks, and 1 strikeout. The following day, Hart received notice of his return to Triple-A, leaving him with a Major League record of 6 games (25⅔ innings), 2 wins and 2 losses, and an earned run average of 6.66 with 17 strikeouts.
If this continues, it is very likely that San Diego will not exercise Hart's team option for next year. Hart has been guaranteed $1.5 million, including a $500,000 buyout amount if his contract is terminated next year. The option to execute the $5 million contract next year rests with the team. If he proves himself in his first season, his value could significantly increase next year. He could have earned up to $7.5 million next year depending on the number of starts, but it now seems unlikely.
San Diego's starting rotation consists of Dylan Cease, Nick Pivetta, Randy Vásquez, Stephen Kolek, and Ryan Bergert. Michael King and Yu Darvish are expected to return from injuries, leaving Hart without a spot in the starting lineup. He will need to aim for a spot in the bullpen, but with current Triple-A performance, expecting a call-up seems difficult.
If the team option for next year is not exercised, it could be a regrettable choice for Hart to leave Korea financially. Last year, playing for the NC Dinos in the KBO League, he had a record of 26 games (157 innings), 13 wins and 3 losses, an earned run average of 2.69, 182 strikeouts, a WHIP of 1.03, and an opponent batting average of .215. He ranked first in strikeouts, WHIP, and opponent batting average, second in earned run average, and third in wins, also receiving the KBO Golden Glove for pitchers.
Considering that James Neale, a foreign pitcher for the KIA Tigers, who had similar performance, significantly increased his contract when he re-signed this year, from $700,000 (guaranteed $550,000) to $1.8 million (guaranteed $1.6 million) excluding transfer fees, Hart could have had a comparable contract. However, unlike Neale, who stayed in Korea, Hart chose to challenge the Major Leagues again. He has 2 wins, but he is facing a high wall and hitting obstacles.
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