Former Philadelphia Phillies, Boston Red Sox Top Prospect Heads to Korea to Play in KBO

After spending 2023 with the Colorado Rockies, right-handed pitcher Connor Seabold is headed to Korea to play in the Korean Baseball Organization (KBO)

Per the Yonhap News Agency:

The Samsung Lions announced their signing of former major league pitcher Connor Seabold on Friday.

The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) club said Seabold, 27, agreed to a one-year deal that could pay him up to US$1 million. He will make $800,000 in salary and $100,000 in signing bonus, with another $100,000 available in incentives.

By going to the KBO, Seabold undoubtedly gets more money and likely gets a far more guaranteed role on a staff. Had he stayed in affiliated ball, he likely would have been looking at only minor league opportunities. 

The California native pitched to a 7.52 ERA over 87.1 innings for the Rockies in 2023, going 1-7.

He came up with Philadelphia Phillies but was traded to the Boston Red Sox during the COVID 2020 season. He made his major league debut in 2021 and made just six appearances with Boston in 2021 and 2022.

Lifetime, he's 1-11 in his career with a 8.12 ERA.

If he's able to pitch well in Korea, he'll have a chance to come back stateside in 2025. Recently, we've seen Chris Flexen and Erik Fedde as pitchers who have excelled in the KBO and then returned to MLB opportunities. 

Seabold was at one point ranked the No. 15 prospect in the Red Sox organization. That came in 2021. He was ranked the No. 29 prospect in the Phillies organization in 2019.