'Jumped to 2G and earned a whopping 1.2 billion won': Doosan releases 'glass-bodied' Flexen... Cameron also requests waiver notice

*This content was translated by AI.

Doosan Bears, which is competing for a mid-tier position, has taken a bold step to leap into the upper ranks. The team has decided to part ways with foreign pitcher Chris Flexen (32) and batter Daz Cameron (29).

Doosan Bears announced on the 29th that it "has requested a waiver notice from the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) for foreign pitcher Chris Flexen (32) and foreign batter Daz Cameron (29)."

Flexen had an outstanding performance with Doosan Bears in 2020, going 8-4 with a 3.01 ERA in 21 games, before heading to the United States the following year where he recorded 14 wins (6 losses), becoming the protagonist of a 'reverse export' legend. Ahead of this season, he returned for $1 million (approximately 1.544 billion won).

Expectations were high. He appeared three times in spring training, allowing just one run over 12 1/3 innings. His ERA was a mere 0.73. Hailed as the ace who would lead Doosan's resurgence, he turned into a bubble in just two games.

During the second game, on April 3 against Hanwha Eagles, he pitched one inning but was pulled early after complaining of shoulder pain and was diagnosed with a tear in the subscapularis muscle of his shoulder. He ended up with just two games and five innings pitched for the season, taking on two losses.

As the injury absence stretched on and he failed to return even after bringing in KBO veteran Wes Benjamin, Doosan extended Benjamin's contract by six weeks. Nevertheless, Flexen did not return.

In the meantime, Benjamin appeared in 12 games, pitching 68 1/3 innings with a record of 6-6 and a 2.90 ERA, delivering stable pitching. He achieved a quality start (starting pitcher pitching six or more innings while allowing three or fewer earned runs) seven times.

Although Flexen was highly anticipated, Doosan could not wait indefinitely and ultimately chose Benjamin.

Flexen, whose 2020 season was marred by injury, limiting him to just 21 games and 116 2/3 innings, was a flaw in an otherwise perfect season. This season, he played in only two games.

Of the total contract value of $1 million, he is guaranteed $143,000 in signing bonus and $650,000 in salary, totaling $793,000 (approximately 1.225 billion won). This amounts to 612.5 million won per game and 245 million won per inning.

Doosan has secured a sure card in Benjamin, but it cannot help but feel regretful for parting ways with Flexen, who once again showed his 'glass-bodied' nature after 2020.

The team also decided to part ways with Cameron, a first-round pick in the Major League Baseball (MLB) draft who had drawn high expectations. He performed with a .287 batting average, 9 home runs, 43 RBIs, 39 runs scored, a .360 on-base percentage, a .473 slugging percentage, and an OPS (on-base plus slugging) of 0.833 in 75 games this season, but struggled recently with a .206 batting average over his last 10 games and fell into a slump, managing only one home run since June. Doosan, looking for higher achievements, ultimately drew the sword.

As Doosan seeks a new foreign batter, it appears likely to re-sign Benjamin, who was in a 'contract worker' status, as a replacement foreign pitcher for Flexen.

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*This content was translated by AI.