'Han is going to Korea again' → 'Shock loss' KBO MVP hit and collapsed greatly, allowing as many as seven hits in ML exhibition games. What should I do?

*This content was translated by AI.

Eric Pedi (33, Chicago White Sox), a former KBO League MVP, collapsed.

Peddy took the mound as a relief pitcher for the second time in the 2026 Major League Baseball exhibition game against the Kansas City Royals at Surprise Stadium in Maricopa County, Arizona on the 16th (Korea time), and was hit with seven hits, one walk, four strikeouts and three runs (three earned) in three ⅔ innings.

After the game, Pedi's performance in this year's exhibition games was one loss and an ERA of 3.12 without a win in three games. In a total of eight ⅔ innings, he has nine hits (one homer), two walks, seven strikeouts and three runs (three earned), a batting average of 0.290 and a 1.27 on-base allowed per inning (WHIP).

Peddy took the mound in place of Hagan Smith, who started in the bottom of the third inning with his team leading 2-0. However, I was nervous from the start. He allowed a third-base infield hit to leadoff hitter Tyler Tolbert and even gave up a stolen base. The subsequent bunt hit by Kyle Isbell made it to first and third base with no outs, and dedicated a sacrifice fly RBI to Lane Thomas. Still, Edgar Cuero and Carter Jensen were struck out in a row, finishing the third inning without additional runs.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, Peddy was hit by a solo shot over the left fence by leadoff hitter Brandon Drury. The score was 2-2 at square one. After continuing to give up a left-handed hit to Nick Loftin, John Rave's sacrifice bunt made him one out and second base. When Kevin Newman's foul flyout to the first baseman, second baseman Loftin tagged up and settled on third base. He caught Tolbert, who entered the next at-bat, with a fly ball to center field to finish the inning without losing a run.

Peddy took the mound in the bottom of the fifth inning when both teams were still 2-2. Peddy gave up a double to leadoff hitter Isbel with a sharp straight hit to center field. Subsequent Thomas hit a timely hit to turn the game around 3-2. However, Starling Marte was thinned out with a double play, and Jensen was thrown to left field, making no additional runs.

Peddy also took the mound in the sixth inning. He struck out leadoff batter Drury with a swing and miss, but gave up a walk to Abraham Toro, who came to the next at-bat. Peddy, who went on to get a hit to center field by John Rave. He struck out the next batter, Newman, and filled two outs. In the end, that's all for Pedi's pitch. Alexander Alberto, who took the mound after Pedi, finished the inning without losing a point. Peddy recorded 67 pitches while facing a total of 18 batters on the day. Of those, there were 43 strikes. With the White Sox losing 4-10, Peddy recorded his first loss of the exhibition game.

Meanwhile, Peddy dominated the KBO league as a member of the NC Dinos in the 2023 season. He achieved the long-awaited triple crown by dominating the ERA, multiple wins and strikeouts (209 strikeouts). In addition to the ERA, multiple wins, and strikeout title awards, the defense award for pitchers, the Golden Glove for pitchers, and the regular season MVP trophy.

He then returned to the big league stage ahead of the 2024 season. At that time, he signed a two-year contract worth $15 million (about 19.7 billion won) with the Chicago White Sox. It was a reversal of Pedi's life, who received an annual salary of only 1.3 billion won in Korea.

Upon returning to the U.S. stage, Peddy started 31 games, recording a 9-9 record with a 3.30 ERA. In a total of 177 ⅓ innings, he recorded 154 hits (20 home runs), 66 runs (65 earned runs) with five-bodied balls, 52 walks, 154 strikeouts, a 0.233 hit rate and WHIP 1.16.

But Peddy collapsed in the 2025 season. Last year, Peddy pitched in 32 games (24 starts) and lost 4-13 with a 5.49 ERA. While throwing 141 innings in total, he had 147 hits (19 homers) and 90 runs (86 earned) with three-body hits, 67 walks with 83 strikeouts, a batting average of 0.269, and a WHIP of 1.52.

In the end, Peddy suffered from release after the end of the 2025 season. NC moved again at the news of Pedi's release. He planned to recruit Peddy to reinforce the mound in the 2026 season and build a strong one-two punch with Riley Thompson. However, Peddy expressed his willingness to continue playing in the big leagues, and in the end, NC had no choice but to pull out.

His former team, the Chicago White Sox, reached out to him again. Peddy looking to revive by signing a one-year short-term contract with the White Sox. What kind of performance will he show this season.

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.