Former KBO League Doosan Bears pitcher Chris Flexen (31, Chicago Cubs) started with a minor league contract and has revived as a bullpen pitcher with an earned run average in the 0s.
Flexen recorded his 5th win of the season by cleanly shutting down the side in order for one inning, with one strikeout, coming on in relief in the 10th inning during the home game against the Cleveland Guardians at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois, on the 4th (Korea time).
With the game tied 0-0 in the top of the 10th inning with no outs and a runner on second, Flexen struck out Angel Martinez after a full-count battle with a slow curve for a foul tip and then caught Austin Hedges' line drive to first base. First baseman Michael Busch slid quickly into the foul territory to catch a ball hit during a check swing.
After that, Flexen retired Steven Kwan on a fly ball to left field, closing out the situation with no outs and a runner on second in a smooth manner. The Cubs then won 1-0 on Matt Shaw's walk-off sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 10th inning, giving Flexen his 5th win of the season and slightly lowering his earned run average from 0.64 to 0.62.
As of that day, Flexen has appeared in relief in all 16 games this season, pitching 29 innings with a record of 5 wins and 1 save and an earned run average of 0.62. Among the 407 major league pitchers who have pitched more than 20 innings, he has the second-lowest earned run average in the 0s, following his teammate Drew Pomeranz (Cubs, 0.00).
Flexen signed a minor league contract with the Cubs in February this year and started the season in Triple-A. After struggling last year with a record of 3 wins and 15 losses, an earned run average of 4.95, and 123 strikeouts over 33 games (30 starts, 160 innings) with the Chicago White Sox, he did not receive a major league contract. There was also a possibility of going to Korea, but he chose to stay in the U.S. to continue his major league challenge.
Flexen pitched well in Triple-A Iowa with a record of 3 wins and an earned run average of 1.16 over 5 starts (23⅓ innings) and received a big league call-up in early May. He began his first appearance on May 3 against the Milwaukee Brewers, pitching 3 scoreless innings for a save and took on roles as a long reliever and in a setup role while maintaining a 'Mr. Zero' streak.
Until giving up 2 runs in 1⅔ innings against the Seattle Mariners on the 23rd of last month, he had recorded 12 games with 21⅓ innings and no earned runs. Even after the 'Mr. Zero' streak was broken, he stabilized again with 6 scoreless innings over 3 games. On the 28th of last month against the Houston Astros, he even pitched 4 scoreless innings, his longest outing of the season.
According to the Chicago Tribune on the 1st, Flexen showed his determination to Cubs manager Craig Counsell after finishing the 7th inning, saying, 'I can pitch one more inning,' and managed to hold out until the 8th inning without any additional bullpen usage. Counsell praised Flexen, stating, 'Bullpen pitchers are interconnected. Flexen made it easier for other pitchers. It's really meaningful. There are no statistics, indicators, or analyses to measure this.'
Counsell, who described Flexen as a 'glue guy' for his ability to hold the team together like glue, also acknowledged his pitching. He stated, 'His feel for all pitches is truly outstanding. Watching him play, you can see his confidence. He confidently throws every pitch in any situation and any count,' adding, 'He is a pitcher who can pitch long, providing our team with flexibility. If well-rested, he can throw 60 to 65 pitches.'
After being regarded as a promising player with the New York Mets from 2017 to 2019, Flexen, a right-handed overhand pitcher, came to Korea in 2020. At the young age of 26, he signed with Doosan, aiming for a career transformation. Although he couldn't complete a full-time role due to injuries to his thigh and foot, he had impressive stats with 8 wins and 4 losses, an earned run average of 3.01, and 132 strikeouts over 21 games (116⅔ innings). Particularly, he dominated in the postseason with a record of 2 wins and 1 loss, 1 save, an earned run average of 1.91, and 32 strikeouts over 5 games (28⅓ innings), paving the way for his return to the major leagues.
After the season, Flexen signed a 2-year guaranteed $4.75 million contract with Seattle, where he excelled in 2021 with 31 games (179⅔ innings), 14 wins and 6 losses, an earned run average of 3.61, and 125 strikeouts, becoming a successful case of KBO reverse export. After pitching a total of 317⅓ innings in his first two years and fulfilling the 300-inning option, Flexen had his $8 million vesting option activated for 2023 and received a total of up to $12.75 million from Seattle over 3 years.
In July 2023, he was traded to the Colorado Rockies, and after completing the season, he became a free agent and signed a 1-year contract worth $1.75 million with the White Sox. Due to last year's struggles, this year he started with a minor league contract, but he has revived as a bullpen pitcher and has become an indispensable player for the first-place Cubs in the National League Central Division (52 wins, 35 losses, .598 winning percentage).
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