Former Seattle Mariners pitcher Ariel Miranda staying in KBO

Ariel Miranda has changed his career path since moving to South Korea. The former Seattle Mariners pitcher was an interchangeable arm of the Major League before touring Asia and spending time in Japan and Taiwan before heading to South Korea for the 2021 season.

After a dominant season in the Korean baseball organization in 2021, Miranda is returning. He’s signed a one-year deal worth $ 1.9 million to return to the Doosan Bears.

Former Seattle Mariners pitcher Ariel Miranda remains with Doosan Bears

Miranda was mediocre at best during his time in the majors. He posted a 4.72 ERA and a 1,247 WHiP in his 223 Major League innings, knocking out 186 batters with 85 walks. His biggest problem was that he was unable to keep the ball in the park as Miranda allowed 49 homers during his short stint in the majors.

While he was solid in Japan and Taiwan, he found a different gear in South Korea. Miranda set an excellent 14-5 record with a 2.33 ERA and a 1.140 WHiP in his 173.2 innings, beating 225 batter with just 63 walks. He was an important part of the Bears’ ability to reach the Korean Series despite failing to win the championship.

It’s no surprise that Miranda received many awards for his performance. His 225 strikeouts are a KBO record, surpassing Choi Dong-won’s 223 strikeouts in 1984. Miranda won the Choi Dong-won Award, the KBO version of Cy Young, and was named league MVP.

In some ways, it’s surprising that he returned to the bears. This achievement would likely have sparked some interest in the US if he wanted to return. However, due to the ongoing lockout, Miranda will be given a guaranteed payday well in excess of the $ 800,000 he made last year. Likewise, his one-year contract would allow Miranda to return to the majors after the 2022 campaign if he so wished.

Former Seattle Mariners pitcher Ariel Miranda dominated his time with the Doosan Bears in 2021. It’s understandable that he’s back in the KBO for 2022.