His worldwide journey continues. After pitching this season in the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL), the CTBC Brothers announced they’ve sold the contract of LHP Eric Stout to the Kia Tigers in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO).
The Brothers’ general manager told Stout’s agency, Liberty Sports, that his contract included an escape clause, so the team was prepared for this situation in advance. As for signing in the KBO, Stout will be ineligible for playoffs, where he has signed a six-week contract.
Stout, 31, has pitched in the CPBL for the past two seasons. In 2023, he only made 12 starts, pitching to a 6-5 record, posting a 3.28 ERA, striking out 79 batters, and allowing 13 walks. This season, Stout showed more dominance in his second CPBL season. He recorded a 10-5 record, posting a 2.77 ERA in 19 starts, striking out 109 batters in 113.2 innings of work.
The Kansas City Royals selected him in the 13th round of the 2014 MLB Draft. He would pitch five seasons in the Royals organization and make his MLB debut with them in 2018. Stout only appeared in three games, allowing seven hits in 2.2 innings, allowing two home runs, and striking out two batters.
In 2019, he joined the Cincinnati Reds organization but never made it past Triple-A, where he posted a 6.27 ERA in 20 games and nine starts. He was released during the season and then joined the Kansas City Monarchs, an independent team in the American Association. He pitched there for three seasons until 2021 when he signed a minor league contract with the Miami Marlins.
After the 2021 season, Stout pitched in the Puerto Rican winter league, where he threw well with the Indios de Mayaguez. He went 3-0 in six starts there with a 1.24 ERA, striking out 36 batters in 29 innings. After a strong winter in Puerto Rico, Stout signed a minor league contract with the Chicago Cubs.
Throwing well with Triple-A Iowa, the Cubs called Stout up to be used primarily in their bullpen. Only appearing in two games with the Cubs in 2022, he posted a 4.91 ERA in three and two-thirds innings, striking out six batters. A few days later, the Pittsburgh Pirates claimed him off waivers. In 18 games out of the Pirates bullpen, Stout struggled with a 5.79 ERA, striking out 19 batters in 18.2 innings, but walked 15 batters. He would be released at season’s end, where he signed a minor league contract with the Seattle Mariners for the 2023 season.
Stout spent most of the seasons with Triple-A Tacoma, appearing in 21 games, making four starts, pitching to a 3-1 record and 4.20 ERA, throwing 40.2 innings, and striking out 44 batters. Halfway through the year, Stout took his talents to the CPBL, where he signed with the CTBC Brothers.
Now, Stout joins the Kia Tigers, who have a commanding first-place lead in the KBO standings. Although he will be ineligible for playoffs, it will be great to see him help the Tigers hold onto sole possession of first place. Stout joins a rotation composed of former MLB pitchers Yang Hyeon-jong and recently signed Eric Lauer. We will see if the signing of Eric Stout will help the Tigers rotation.
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WBN KBO: https://worldbaseball.com/league/south-korea/
Photo Credit: Eric Stout #52 of the Pittsburgh Pirates in action during the game against the Boston Red Sox at PNC Park on August 17, 2022 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
