Former NY Mets Minor League Pitcher of the Year is earning himself a return to MLB

Winning a Minor League Player of the Year Award is a nice pat on the back yet hardly an indication of stardom on the rise. The pitching award, especially, has had some forgettable names. Corey Oswalt, Kevin Smith, and in 2021, Adam Oller. Oller was in his mid-20s and a former 20th round draft pick the New York Mets picked up by the Mets in the Rule 5 Draft. He was 9-4 with a 3.45 ERA in the minors, doing most of his best pitching in Triple-A. He wouldn't make the big league club. They had other plans.

If you thought the shortened 2020 season was weird followed by the no-fans-in-the-stands for at least a good part of 2021 strangeness, recall how the 2021-2022 MLB offseason had the lockout. December, January, and February had no MLB transactions. On March 10, the lockout ended and the frenzy began. Two days later, Oller was traded alongside J.T. Ginn to the Oakland Athletics for Chris Bassitt.

The A’s give Oller an extended look, allowing him to throw 74.1 innings. Unfortunately, his 6.30 ERA was a sign of things to come. Just a 6.54 ERA in the majors when including the following two seasons, Oller decided to go overseas. He, like many, has found a place where he belongs and can maybe secure a new MLB contract.

Is Adam Oller the next player to make a successful jump back to MLB?

Anthony Kay posting a 3.96 ERA this year with the Chicago White Sox hasn’t made him the ultimate success story, but it definitely appears that his time overseas was worthwhile. Earning a modest $5 million this year and at the same salary in 2027 with some escalating amounts from innings pitched, the White Sox can be thankful for what he has delivered.

This past offseason included multiple players who weren’t successful in MLB jumping back. Foster Griffin is definitely one of the biggest successes. It’s a few years old, but Erick Fedde has had some nice years.

Oller’s season numbers with the Kia Tigers include 22 starts, a 3.08 ERA, and 9.4 K/9. This isn’t lightning in a bottle. It’s his second year in Korea. He made 26 starts last season and had a 3.62 ERA with 10.2 K/9. Better in some ways and worse in others, the important detail is that this should be classified as a quality result.

Oller could use one more season in Korea before facilitating a major league deal. He has been good yet left room for improvement. A return stateside at some point seems very possible. If not, pad those stats and become a KBO favorite.

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