Cincinnati Reds news: Former pitcher Dan Straily set to play in Korea

While Cincinnati Reds fans are eager to see baseball return, former pitcher Dan Straily will be playing overseas in the KBO.

According to Yahoo! Sports, the Korean Baseball Organization is set to begin their season on May 5th. After being shutdown for over a month, the KBO will be playing the 2020 season in empty stadiums initially with the hopes of fans returning once the risk of COVID-19 is further reduced. Former Cincinnati Reds pitcher Dan Straily has found a home with the Lotte Giants.

Baseball of any kind will be cheered by fans throughout the world. The KBO’s season had been scheduled to begin on March 28th, but was shutdown due to the coronavirus pandemic. With a dramatic decrease in the number of cases in South Korea, Straily and other former major leaguers are headed overseas to play ball.

Straily initially came up through the Oakland Athletics organization, but was traded along with Addison Russell to the Chicago Cubs. In 2015, Straily was dealt to the Houston Astros and then in 2016 was traded to the San Diego Padres in exchange for Erik Kratz.

After failing to latch on for any distinguishable period of time during his previous four stops, Straily was claimed off waivers by the Cincinnati Reds after being designated for assignment by the Padres in 2016.

The right-hander went right to work for the Reds, finding a home in the starting rotation. With Anthony DeSclafani injured, Alfredo Simon unable to get out of his own way and John Lamb proving himself to be a bust, Straily became the best pitcher in the Cincinnati rotation.

Dan Straily went 14-8 with a 3.76 ERA in 31 starts, tied for the most on the team with Brandon Finnegan. Straily’s 3.7 wins above replacement fell just behind Joey Votto’s 4.2 WAR, good enough for second-best on the team.

The following offseason, the Reds front office made one of the greatest trades by shipping Straily to the Miami Marlins in exchange for future ace Luis Castillo along with Austin Brice and Isaiah White. During his two seasons in Miami, Straily went 15-15 with a 4.20 ERA. Last season, Straily played for thee Baltimore Orioles, putting up a career-worst 9.82 ERA.

Straily is not alone as former Reds outfielder is slated to play for the Kia Tigers and right-hander Odrisamer Despaigne, who signed a minor-league deal with Cincinnati last winter, will suit up for the KT Wiz of the KBO.