Red Sox Left-Hander Signs In Korea

Just a day after the Boston Red Sox granted 28-year-old minor league reliever Thomas Pannone his release, the left-hander has signed on with the Kia Tigers of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO). 

The team's news release says the deal is for $300,000 for the rest of the season.

Pannone last pitched in the majors for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2019, where he posted a 6.16 ERA in 73 innings, mostly as a reliever.

His performance in Triple-A the past couple of years hasn't been much better, as he's registered a 4.57 ERA with Boston's affiliate in Worcester this season, though his 70:7 BB:K ratio is extremely promising. 2021 was disastrous for him, posting a 7.07 ERA with the Los Angeles Angels' Salt Lake affiliate.

An interesting footnote provided in the Kia Tigers' release is that Pannone is the fourth member of the 2019 Blue Jays to play in the KBO this season. He will join his new Tigers teammate Socrates Brito, while Wilmer Font is with the SSG Landers, and Anthony Alford plays for the KT Wiz.

Photo Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports