Former big league left-hander Dietrich Enns is finalizing a deal with the LG Twins of the Korea Baseball Organization, per Dan Kurtz of My KBO. The terms of the contract are not yet known.
Enns, 32, was selected by the Yankees in the 19th-round of the draft back in 2012. Enns was swapped to the Twins in 2017 and made his major league debut that same year, though he struggled to a 6.75 ERA in just four innings of work. The lefty spent the next several seasons in the minor leagues, bouncing between the Twins, Padres, and Rays organizations before returning to the big leagues in 2021 with Tampa Bay. Enns found more success with the Rays that season, pitching well in multi-inning relief. In 22 1/3 innings of work across nine appearances, Enns posted a 2.82 ERA with an even stronger 2.32 FIP, striking out 28.4% of batters faced while walking just 6.8%.
Despite that strong performance in 2021, Enns was unable to secure a big league role for the 2022 season and instead departed for a role overseas, joining the Seibu Lions of Japan’s NPB. Enns pitched very well for the Lions in his first NPB season, with a 2.94 ERA in 122 1/3 innings of work across 22 starts. Unfortunately, that success did not carry over to 2023 as the lefty struggled to a 5.17 ERA in just 54 innings of work.
Still, Enns’s success in both the majors in 2021 and NPB in 2022 make him an interesting addition to the Twins, who Kim Geun-han of MK Sports indicates hope that Enns can replace five-year MLB veteran Adam Plutko on the club’s pitching staff for the 2024 campaign. Plutko, for his part, is hoping to return to stateside ball this offseason after posting a 2.49 ERA across 49 starts in Korea the past two seasons.
OKBaseballFan
Can’t be surprised a man name Dietrich is from a town called Frankfort
MLB Top 100 Commenter
That’s Illinois.
Was his epistemological outlook influenced by Schopenhauer and Kant?
Did he have an ant farm and join the New Celibacy Movement?
niel.marshal
Former NPB starter usually turns out good when they move to SK. David Buchanan and Albert Suarez with the Samsung Lions was the prime example. KBO starter moving to Japan that turn out good, so far only Seth Greisinger
andrewf
Rick Vandenhurk was good in NPB after moving from the KBO, when he could stay healthy that is.
Ham Fighter
There better because Japan (npb) is much better than the kbo hitting and pitching
I.M. Insane
Dietrich: Beverly is busy.
MLB Top 100 Commenter
I.M.
You don’t sound like Gregory Peck at all.
Monkey’s Uncle
Well hopefully the Enns justify the means.