Buchanan, a member of the Triple-A Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs under the Philadelphia Phillies, took the mound as the team’s second pitcher in the top of the fifth inning, trailing 2-5, in a game against Triple-A Norfolk Ties (under Baltimore Orioles) at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown, Pennsylvania, on the 21st (Korean time).
Buchanan got off to a fresh start in the fifth inning by grounding Shane Fontana to first base, Anthony Servio to first base, and Conor Pavolónio to shortstop.
However, with one out in the top of the sixth inning, he was hit by Donta Williams, who hit left-handed, and was hit by Connor and Novey with a two-run shot. The gap widened to 2-7. Afterwards, Daniel Johnson hit a grounder to the pitcher, and gave up a walk to Billy Cook. With two outs and a runner on the first base, Maverick Handley hit a grounder to the catcher to finish the game in the top of the sixth inning.
In the top of the seventh inning, he was hit hard by leadoff hitter Shane Fontana. However, he guided Anthony Servio to a grounder to the second base and caught Connor Pavoloni with a double play to the third base, finishing the seventh inning.
He threw a total of 37 pitches, and displayed 15 sinkers, nine changeups, seven cutters, and six curves. He recorded the maximum speed of 92.8 miles (149.3 kilometers) in ball control. With two runs allowed on the day, his ERA for this season slightly increased from 5.46 to 5.48.
Currently, Buchanan has lost ground in Triple-A. He was placed on the injured list on the 5th, and after returning, he joined the bullpen, not the starting pitcher. In the game against the Syracuse Mets on the 17th, his first game since his return, he was sluggish by allowing two hits, two walks, and two runs in two innings. He allowed two consecutive losses through the bullpen.
Buchanan, who joined the Korean pro baseball league as a member of Samsung in 2020, had a record of 54 wins and 28 losses with an ERA of 3.02 (699 ⅔ innings, 235 earned runs) and 539 strikeouts during the three seasons up to last year. He was an ace with blue eyes and blue blood who practiced fan-first spirit.
However, Buchanan left for the U.S. to take on a new challenge after the end of last year’s season. Samsung made an attractive offer to Buchanan, including a multi-year contract, but it rejected the offer. Buchanan chose to take on a challenge to the Major League that would never happen again. After signing a minor league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies, he was invited to the spring camp. However, he only had a 5.63 ERA in four games during the spring camp. During eight innings, he recorded 13 hits, three walks, WHIP 2.00, and a batting average of 371 percent. He did not make the Major League roster, and started the season in the Minor League.
He also lost his starting position in Triple-A. It can be seen that his position in Triple-A has decreased. Perhaps Buchanan will no longer have major league opportunities. Even if a player in his mid-30s has an exceptional performance, he is agonizing over a major league call-up, but given Buchanan’s current performance, he is unlikely to make a major league call-up.
If Buchanan continues his career once again in the future, his return to Korea is the best scenario. Only Samsung, which has the right to hold, can negotiate with Buchanan.
However, if Buchanan is recruited, one of the existing foreign players including Danny Reyes and Conor Seabold should be sorted out. Both players were once on the verge of being kicked out, but are now in stable condition. Reyes has seven wins and three losses with a 3.90 ERA in 15 games. Conor has recovered from his sluggish performance in the early days of the season. He has won six games and lost five games with a 4.33 ERA in 16 games.
Samsung also has to make a choice, and Buchanan is now in a position to make a choice. Will Buchanan miss the roar of Daegu-Samsung Lions Park that the crowd is sending out? Could this longing be a factor that determines one’s decision to go to Korea? Attention is focusing on whether Samsung will also show interest in Buchanan, which has lost ground.토토사이트 모음