Former Blue Jays currently playing in the Korean Baseball Organization

Earlier this summer, I wrote an article looking at former Blue Jays players that decided to take their talents overseas to the Nippon Professional Baseball league, the highest level of baseball in Japan. A majority of these players signed during the offseason when another opportunity didn’t arise in the MLB, looking for full-time hours at a high level rather than sit in the Minor Leagues making less money than playing overseas.

Considering the process itself was quite fun to see former players and how they were doing since leaving the Blue Jays, I decided to do the same thing, but this time take a look at players who had decided to head to the Korean Baseball Organization, the highest level of baseball in South Korea.

This is particularly interesting considering one of the highest profile free agent signings under current general manager Ross Atkins is that of Hyun Jin Ryu, who started his professional baseball career in the KBO with the Hanwha Eagles before coming stateside to join the Los Angeles Dodgers and then the Toronto Blue Jays via free agency.

It should be noted that all stats were as current as per Baseball Reference heading into Monday morning (considering the time zone difference and schedules).

Without further ado, let’s take a look at former Jays currently playing in the KBO this year.

As the Blue Jays gear up for another playoff run, let’s take a look at former players who have moved on and are now playing in the KBO.

Wilmer Font – RHP

Right-hander Wilmer Font is an interesting player, mostly because he actually had two different stints with the Toronto Blue Jays throughout his career.

Back in mid-2016, his contract was bought by the Blue Jays when he was a member of the Ottawa Champions in the Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball. He finished that year pitching in AA and AAA and would sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers the following offseason.

He rejoined the Blue Jays back in 2019 when he was acquired from the New York Mets organization weeks before the trade deadline. Font finished out that season and most of the 2020 campaign before being DFA’d just prior to the playoffs. Overall, the Venezuelan product was solid in 2019, authoring a 3.66 ERA through 39.1 innings but struggling in 2020, appearing in 16.1 innings but allowing 18 earned runs off 28 hits.

That offseason, Font signed a one-year deal with the SSG Landers (formerly the SK Wyverns) and has produced solid results out of the rotation since heading to the KBO.

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table

His 2.55 ERA currently has him ranked seventh across the KBO and second on the squad, while sitting third in innings pitched with 166.0. Font is currently on a one-year deal with the Landers and could potentially look to return to the MLB this offseason.