Former Baltimore Orioles pitcher Spenser Watkins is heading overseas to play in Korea for the 2024 season, but he hasn't decided which team yet he'll play for.
Per Orioles' reporter Roch Kubatko on social media:
Former #orioles pitcher Spenser Watkins has narrowed his decision on KBO signing to 2 teams. Heard decision is imminent. Good guy.
Watkins has appeared in major league games during parts of three seasons with the Orioles and Athletics. He debuted for the Orioles in the 2021 season and then also pitched there in 2022. He made one appearance for Oakland in 2023.
He was actually traded from the Orioles to the Houston Astros in 2023 but then was DFA'd in August, which allowed him to get to Oakland for an opportunity there.
Lifetime, he's a 7-14 pitcher with a 5.97 ERA. He's thrown 164.1 major league innings. He has struck out 102 batters lifetime.
While it may be disappointing to leave the major leagues, it could present Watkins with an opportunity to get back in 2025. Former Seattle Mariners Chris Flexen came back from the KBO and found success. Just this offseason, Erik Fedde returned from the KBO and signed with the Chicago White Sox.
Watkins is a great success story by ever having made it to the major leagues. He was a 30th-round pick in the 2014 draft of the Detroit Tigers. The 30th round of the draft no longer even exists.
When information comes out about who Watkins will sign with and for what money, we'll have the information for you.
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