Twins Signed Kam Mickolio

[Seth Stohs]

According to Matt Eddy's Minor League Transactions (at Baseball America), the Twins have signed 33-year-old Kam Mickolio. He hasn't played in MLB since 2011. He had a short stint in Baltimore a couple of years before that. But he's been playing in Japan most of the past 5 years. He's put up solid ERAs (lower than 3), though his K-Rate isn't high (though I think it's still considered not a good thing in Japan to strike out, so that may have less meaning than it does here). 

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/minor-league-transactions-may-6-12/#XrwvSpodLD0bLGEG.97 

 

Obviously they signed him fairly recently. Presumably he'd head to Ft. Myers and work at Extended Spring Training and see how it goes. 

 

 

 

A 6-foot-9 reliever drafted by the Mariners in 2006, righthander Kam Mickolio appeared in the majors each year from 2008 to 2011, totaling 32 innings for the Orioles and Diamondbacks. Seattle included Mickolio in the same 2008 trade with Baltimore that exchanged Adam Jones and Chris Tillman for Erik Bedard.

Mickolio, who is now 33, washed out of the U.S. majors with a 4.83 ERA but launched a successful five-year career in Japan after signing with Hiroshima for the 2012 season. He immediately ascended to the role of closer for the Carp and saved 73 games with a 2.43 ERA in three seasons. He signed with Rakuten for 2015 but pitched only in 2016 because of injury.

Read more at http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/minor-league-transactions-may-6-12/#OEvajjGB2Pzsxx5h.99

 

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

But he's been playing in Japan most of the past 5 years. He's put up solid ERAs (lower than 3), though his K-Rate isn't high (though I think it's still considered not a good thing in Japan to strike out, so that may have less meaning than it does here). 

Japan Central League K/9 was 7.0 last year, which was indeed less than MLB (8.3) although the latter includes some pitcher batting, while the Central League uses the DH league-wide.  Still, Mickolio's 5.8 was well below league average.