Earlier today, Rotoworld reported via Twitter that Wilin Rosario is headed to the Korean Baseball Organization. The news was initially broken by the Estrellas Orientales Baseball Club. The report has yet to be substantiated by another reputable sports media outlet, but if true it begs the question, why was a more than serviceable player like Rosario unable to find a place on a Major League roster?
Wilin Rosario firmó con un equipo de Corea. No estuvo disponible anoche. Tampoco hoy.
— EOBASEBALLCLUB (@EOBASEBALLCLUB) January 17, 2016
(Click the globe to translate)
Nicknamed the “Baby Bull”, Wilin Rosario came up in 2011 as a member of the Colorado Rockies. Through 447 career games at the Major League level, Rosario has put together a respectable .273 batting average, with 71 home runs and 241 runs batted in. Rosario has hit 20+ home runs in a season twice and posted a career high .292 batting average in 2013. Proficient as a catcher and first baseman, it is mind boggling to wonder why Rosario will not be playing on American soil this season. It’s doubtful to assume that the offer he received to play in the KBO was outrageous enough to spurn the MLB, but at this point in the offseason it is safe to assume that the 26 year-old catcher just simply didn’t have any significant offers on the table. Despite his questionable defensive skills behind the plate, Rosario should have easily found a home on an American League roster and surely his offensive numbers would pickup as a full-time designated hitter as opposed to catcher.
Did not think Wilin Rosario would end up on a Korean team. Thought some AL team would give him some type of deal
— Matt Johnson (@MattJ_onNFL) January 18, 2016
Baseball Reference’s Similarity Score tool compares Rosario to a number of prominent hitters through age 26. The list includes Buster Posey, Javy Lopez, Ian Desmond, Miguel Tejada, and Carlton Fisk, just to name a few who posted comparable offensive statistics to this point in their respective careers. To make things even more confusing, Rosario was projected to have a solid season. Baseball Reference projects Rosario to bat .274 with 12 home runs and 49 RBIs. What’s even more remarkable is that this projection is under the assumption that Rosario would play a part-time role and only record 362 plate appearances.
After multiple minor league stints, Rosario elected free agency after running out of minor league options in 2015. A low risk option for many teams, Rosario could have been a cost effective alternative to teams seeking catching depth or a solution at first base, like the Tampa Bay Rays and Pittsburgh Pirates. Instead, the “Baby Bull” will now spend a year overseas and maybe return to Major League Baseball in 2017.
DENVER, CO – SEPTEMBER 18: Wilin Rosario #20 of the Colorado Rockies celebrates as he comes home to score on his game winning walk off two run home run off of Addison Reed #43 of the Arizona Diamondbacks at Coors Field on September 18, 2014 in Denver, Colorado. The Rockies defeated the Diamondbacks 7-6. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
