Spring training is one of my favorite times of the sports year. North America’s baseball teams gather in sunny climates for a few weeks. They train, play practice games, and get back into shape for the long season that approaches. For fans, it is a time of unlimited potential. Even the worst team is undefeated until the season begins in earnest. In any given year, anything seems possible.
Regardless of how busy I am during the month of March, I allot some time to watch a few Spring Training games. The games don’t count, and half the players are minor leaguers I’ve never heard of before, but I cannot pass up the chance to see baseball again and to watch some of the prospects. These practice games also provide an early look at each team and serve as a flawed predictor of how they are shaping up for the upcoming regular season.
So I happily settled down for a few hours last week to watch a game. The starting pitcher for the team in red and white had come from Japan, where he excelled in recent years with an impressive win-loss record and earned run average (ERA). The team in red and white took a chance on him, signing him to a multi-year contract on the heels of his performance in Japan. While questions remain about how well he will do against Major League Baseball (MLB) competition, he could settle in and have a great year.
By now, any baseball fan who reads this will believe I am discussing Shohei Ohtani. I wrote about the Japanese two-way phenom some months ago, just before he signed to play in the U.S. with the team formerly known as the Anaheim Angels. Their uniforms are red and white. And they signed him to a multi-year contract to bring his skills from Japan to the United States.
Source: MLB.com
Who is Miles Mikolas?
But no, I was not discussing Shohei Ohtani. I actually have not watched him play yet. The game I watched was between the St. Louis Cardinals (another red and white team) and the Atlanta Braves. And the Cards’ starting pitcher was someone I had not watched before; his name was Miles Mikolas and he recently signed on a multi-year contract after playing in Japan. Though I wasn’t too familiar with Mikolas, I came away from that game extremely impressed with his pitching (though many of the hitters he faced in this Spring Training game were not true major leaguers).
A few years ago, Miles Mikolas began his career in the U.S. with the San Diego Padres and Texas Rangers, washing out with a high ERA. Pitching wise, he had good stuff: a live, four-seam fastball and a number of breaking pitches, including a wide curveball. The problem was that he left the ball out over the plate too often and hitters were crushing it.
With the prospects for his professional career dimming, Mikolas decided to jump over to Japan, where he could make some money and get regular playing time. He signed with the Yomiuri Giants of Tokyo. And in his debut season in Japan, Mikolas pitched to an impressive record of 13-3 (wins-losses). He stayed in Japan for three years, during which he posted a very low ERA of 2.18.
A Mikolas baseball card from Japan.
His performance in Japan turned enough heads. While the Nippon Professional Baseball League (NPB) is widely considered to be of slightly less competitive quality than Major League Baseball (MLB) in the U.S. and Canada, Japan has plenty of good hitting. A 2.18 ERA is not cheap and it will earn some well-deserved attention. Beyond the numbers, scouts noticed that Mikolas had refined his pitching repertoire and was locating his breaking pitches well – something he had not been able to do consistently before.
Last winter, the St. Louis Cardinals had seen enough to offer Miles Mikolas $15.5 million over two years to return to the major leagues. In the game that I watched, he completely fooled the opposing team (though this was only Spring Training and they had a number of minor leaguers in the lineup). I saw his fastball top out around 95-96 miles per hour, his breaking pitches painting the corners of the plate, and his off-speed pitch coming in as low as 78 mph.
That is a steep variation in velocity (which can fool hitters) and he has Mike Maddux as his pitching coach. During his last three Spring Training starts, Mikolas was close to lights-out and he deservedly earned a spot in the Cardinals’ starting rotation. If this pitcher can keep the ball down and off the center of the plate, he could be one of the season’s biggest surprises. But then again, this was Spring Training, and we never know how success will translate until the regular season games arrive.
How Did He Turn Things Around?
So how did Miles Mikolas turn his career around? How did a 29-year old journeyman pitcher end up on the cusp of an impressive career resurgence after basically failing in the Major Leagues a few short years ago? Like a few others, he went to a foreign professional league, made some adjustments to his pitching, probably had some very good coaching there, put in some solid innings, and came away with a much better understanding of how to get guys out.
Maybe it helped that he spent three years in Japan rather than just one. He developed into a better pitcher during that time. And it probably did not hurt that his wife was the real celebrity while he was pitching in Japan. She became an entertainer and social media sensation while they lived in Tokyo, more famous than her husband. So staying abroad for three years may not have been as difficult for them as it would be for some others.
Miles and Lauren Mikolas. Source: Palm Beach Post.
Lauren Mikolas in Japan. Source: SoraNews24.
Miles Mikolas is not the first American player to turn his career around in a foreign league. MLB scouts keep an eye on the talent level in foreign leagues and once in a while, they notice a former U.S. player who has (re-)discovered the fountain of youth. Blame it on Julio Franco, who may have been the first great “reclamation project” from the Japanese, Korean, and Mexican baseball leagues.
The Ageless Julio Franco Showed Them How It Was Done
Julio Franco was an ageless anomaly who played professional baseball for more than three decades. In 1978, the Dominican player was signed by the Philadelphia Phillies and began playing in their minor league system, and his last year in MLB was 2007. He reached the major leagues in 1982, which began a storied career. With the Cleveland Indians and Texas Rangers, Franco was a three-time All Star and five-time Silver Slugger. In 1991, he was the American League batting champion. He was still playing at a high level in 1994 when there was a labor strike that cancelled the MLB season; Franco signed to play in Japan for a year and then returned to the U.S. with the Cleveland Indians.
Julio Franco, minor league baseball card from 1980.
In 1997, Franco’s career appeared to be spiraling downwards. His batting average had dropped by more than 50 points. He was not hitting well and his team released him. When Franco left to sign with Japan’s Chiba Lions, most American baseball fans believed that would be the end of his MLB career. That was the pattern then: when a player could not handle the MLB anymore, he might look to play for a year or two in another country and earn a little more money there before retiring; most observers assumed that was Franco’s plan also.
In 1998, he was in Japan. In 1999, Franco was playing in the Mexican League. On the strength of his impressive .423 average there, a U.S. team brought him in for a short time, but he only had one at bat, striking out for the Tampa Bay Rays. In 2000, Franco went to Korea to play for the Samsung Lions. And in 2001, he re-joined the Mexican League with the Angelopolis Tigers.
In 2001, the Atlanta Braves needed some hitting help and were desperate enough to take a gamble on a 43-year-old former major leaguer. Even at age 43, he was still playing good defense and in Japan, Korea, and Mexico, he was getting hits against left handed pitching. In 25 games for Atlanta that year, Franco hit .300 and he was re-signed to play for the next year. And again. And again.
Julio Franco, baseball card from 2002.
Franco played for Atlanta from 2001-2005, after which the New York Mets offered him a 2-year contract at age 47. From 2004-2007, he became the oldest active player in major leagues. He went on to set additional geezer records, including the oldest player to hit a home run and to hit a grand slam. Even after his MLB career was over, into his 50s, he continued playing in Mexico and for independent professional league teams in the U.S. and Japan.
Julio Franco, still playing in an independent league in Japan at age 57. Source: Japan Times.
This short video goes through some of the stages in Franco's career.
Julio Franco was truly ageless. And as a former All Star and batting champion, he was not exactly an unknown player to U.S. teams, even when he was playing in Japan, Korea, or Mexico. But since Julio Franco’s resurgence in the second part of his career, MLB teams seem to have paid more attention to gringos who end up in foreign leagues. They might just make some adjustment in their throwing or hitting and gain the confidence needed to succeed where they were failing before.
The Thames Miracle
If you need one more example of a resurgent success story, consider Eric Thames. Early in his career, he bounced around, going between the Toronto Blue Jays, Seattle Mariners, Baltimore Orioles, and Houston Astros, mostly in their minor league systems and mostly not impressing anyone with his hitting. However, a Korean team noticed him playing in the Venezuelan Winter League and they thought he might be a fit for them; Thames signed with the NC Dinos to play in Korea for the 2014 season.
Eric Thames in Korea. Source: Korea Times.
In Korea, Thames exceeded everyone’s expectations by hitting .343 with 37 home runs that year. The next year, he hit 47 home runs with 40 stolen bases, the first person ever to have a 40-40 year in the Korean league, en route to becoming the league’s Most Valuable Player (MVP). He did almost as well the next year, after which he scored a three-year MLB contract with the Milwaukee Brewers, who paid him $16 million. And in his first year back in the U.S., Thames proved that his time in Korea was no fluke, banging out 31 home runs against MLB pitchers.
A new contract and 16 million reasons to smile. Source: Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.
Aside from underdog teams winning championships, there’s no better story in sports than the washed-up athlete who finds a way to rise again to new heights. And sometimes, playing in a foreign league gives them a chance to make adjustments and discover something new that leads to a career resurgence back home. Somewhere, some place, Kevin Costner must be itching to star in a new movie.
Costner at the Field of Dreams anniversary. Source: NBCnews.com.
References
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2017/12/06/baseball/japanese-baseball/former-yomiuri-pitcher-miles-mikolas-signs-mlbs-cardinals/#.Wrk6N5ch2Uk
https://soranews24.com/2015/06/17/u-s-baseball-player-joins-tokyos-yomiuri-giants-but-its-his-wife-thats-getting-the-attention/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julio_Franco
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/francju01.shtml
http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/57-julio-franco-quit-playing-baseball/story?id=33771294
https://www.mlb.com/news/mikolas-thames-revive-mlb-careers-in-asia/c-264294704
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Thames
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/thameer01.shtml
Top image shows Mikolas, Thames, and Tony Barnette, who also revived his career overseas. Source: MLB.com.
As always I appreciate your friends stories, and this one that is sporting I liked more especially because you related at some time the winter league of my country, Venezuela. In particular, I'm left with the experience of seeing Luke Scott in the Navegantes del Magallanes uniform before he succeeds with the Houston Astros. Another who had a similar experience was Giovanny Urshela who was one of the best with the Aguilas del Zulia, before having an opportunity in the majors.
That winter league in Venezuela has helped a lot of players.
Could start becoming more and more popular for American players in the near future. The new bill that was proposed that will keep wages below minimum wage for MiLB players is a disgrace. I could see some of those guys jumping over towards a foreign team looking for higher wages and potentially a different platform to showcase their skills. My brother-in-law currently plays in the Orioles organization and is really struggling to make ends meet on the measly $1000 a month he is provided with.
Minor leaguers make almost nothing. It is shameful. Good luck to your brother in law!
youre right and I never get tired about hearing about Julio Franco. He's an amazing and inspiring guy. I do work with the MLB and MLBPA so I follow closely but I have to admit I hate the spring. The only good part is going to Arizona to get players and agents in one place for meetings lol.
In fact, I find it funny that the "low rung" agents are sent to Florida and the ones with seniority at their first go to Arizona because spring is so much easier there. But I digress,
I think it is a lot easier for American players to go to other leagues than it is for foreigners to come here. The learning curve is steep, especially for pitchers from Japan. I think it must be a confidence killer for Ohtani but he'll be fine. Pitching is so tough here. My theory is that he isn't used to facing such undisciplined hitters with so much strength here. It seems hitters in Japan are very disciplined and it makes them easier to figure out. Here the hitters lack fundamentals so they are wild cards at the plate sometimes
Yes, I think Ohtani will adjust also. He may need more time.
we shall see. I cannot believe it is baseball time already. It always sneaks up so damn fast.
His a legend indeed.
This is interesting, I love baseball. Wanted to play, at least basic, but never had the opportunity as it was not one of the popular sport in my country.
Thames story is very inspiring. Opened me up to some insight I have never really considered. Good you brought this to us here, we may never have know about it.
It turns out @donkeypong likes to exercise, this is my lifestyle that may be followed by the steemias
It's really a great game @donkeypong
I actually got to play baseball during my youthful age whiles I was schooling in SOS Hermann Gmeiner International School and it was fun playing and i was playing a lot of roles being a catcher, a pitcher, and a second baseman but just that I could not play for long since it was only played at my school. I will love to play again though.
Thanks for reminding me of this great game! :) @donkeypong
It's a great pastime. I'm glad you have some fond memories.
Yes sure @donkeypong and thanks, I think I will get a bat and a ball and later gather some friends and play at weekends😀💪
I developed interest in playing baseball when I entered secondary school. I layer changed my school and the school I changed to have no baseball team plus baseball is not popular in my country Nigeria.
It so nice reading about baseball. From my little experience in baseball, one needs to be playing actively to stay in form. So, I think this is a good one for them
I think your message has been one of the best in sports trends, I love baseball and it seems like in steemit do not pay much attention to that.
Your post I liked because the walk for your love of spring training (I hope that in that game you had the chance to see a Ronald Acuña before going down) you speak of resurgence of races in foreign leagues.
And finally you talk about the league in my country Venezuela, I remember Thames with the Leones about five years ago, I remember Trumbo with Magallanes today in Baltimore, Ryan Volgesong with Tiburones and then he was good in MLB with San Francisco, Urshella and Gattis today In Houston.
To finish I take advantage of baseball enjoyment to invite my last post, in which I make an invitation to a Fantasy League of Steemians. Draft for today check it out
Many good players have developed their skills in that league, not to mention all of the great Venezuelans as well.
@donkeypong, That's most baseball encouragement article. I love baseball. But never played coz my country has low facility to improve more. But I remember my best friend didn't leave from his dream. He build up dream. It's he keep hope to be baseball expert. But finally he became his target hit. Now He mot living here. He played better another state. I've heard before about Miles Mikolas. He was all rounder baseball player I've ever seen. Another two players information heard only few knowledge. But now totally updated via your gorgeous article. Thanks for very interesting sport conversation article.
Venezuelan here. We had a American manager running Tigres de Aragua team, (Miguel Cabrera comes from there). He ran the team from 2003 to 2014 and won 6 tittles, we also have American players in the basketball league.
You have a lot of great players!
This has been a great source of motivation/inspiration and for Miles Mikolas, I wish him a better performance and more wonderful career on his return to the Major League.
Still your boy @royaltiesboss-eu
Actually when I'm was 10 years old my daddy start to teach me baseball training. After 10 years later I'm now the team head of baseball. It's all happen to just my daddy's hard work.
Love you daddy 🙂
That's a great story. And it's a great sport!
It's my pleasure to you're loved it. My friend baseball is the toppest games in the world. Just gentleman's will be played those type of game.
Wow, the Franco and Thames story is amazing and very inspiring. Shows that sometimes in life, when things aren't going too good, it does not mean we are not good enough. We may just need a different platform to bring out what we have inside. Am a lover of sports. Although don't know too much about baseball, but have watch a couple of games and movies on baseball that make me wanna always watch. I just didn't read this post to entertain, actually got inspired by the Franco and Thames story.
It's encouraging to read their story and how they turned things around. Although I have never seen a baseball game..
Reading through this story has made me look forward to my first game. Quite thought provoking and inspirational.
Inspirational stories are always welcome. And they occur in so many parts of life, not just baseball.
True words.. They sure do.. Just feel good knowing baseball inspired one
Wow... That is really an opportunity for them to redeem themselves, get back on track and return to the game fully fit. It's really a nice one...Sometimes I wished I could play baseball.. But from the part of the world where I come from it is not much of a popular game. Thanks for sharing @donkeypong
Everyone loves a good underdog story after all. A good trip abroad can always help you get the experience you lacked or look at things from a different perspective, being involved with new people always does that.
Since Mikolas did both things, he went to a new country and new people, new league, new everything, 3 years was enough to find a new course for his baseball career! I'm pretty sure everyone knows the Japanese solve every problem with discipline and hard work that might have helped him a lot too.
That's a good point. Living abroad in a different culture certainly provides some perspective on life and one's place in it, completely apart from any athletic skills.
Many leagues from foreign countries are undervalued, although in Japan there could be a lower level than in MLB, they have been champions twice in the World Baseball Classic. Also the winter leagues are very important, for Venezuela and Dominican Republic come many American players looking for a better performance to get better contracts in the USA.
All of those countries are very good. The Dominican and Venezuela are poorer countries, but many of the American MLB's players come from those countries. And yes, you are right that the offseason leagues there are a good place for others to develop.
Spring training is always the best time of year for baseball. I think other than the playoffs it might be the best time. Baseball is one of those sports where every year offers new hope and a chance for improvement or redemption. The last season is in the past and players come with fresh attitudes and desires. There are so many stories of players who bounce back after horrible seasons to put up fantastic numbers in the new year. Watching comeback seasons like Jason Giambi and Ken Griffey Jr in 2005 or to see the new homes and the opportunities they provide like when Doc Halliday finally was freed from the chains that were the Blue Jays at the time. I also look forward to seeing who is going to be the first pitcher to ring up a no hitter of perfect game. The personal accolades in baseball keep us coming back every year knowing there is an opportunity for new greatness. Who will stand out this year? I don’t know but I can’t wait to see. Who will turn a great spring training into a stellar season? Who is merely teasing us and will flounder this year? It’s why we watch! Game on and Bring Back The EXPOS!!!!!!
Go Expos! They would have won it all in that strike year. This time of the year is hopeful because everyone remains undefeated, so hopes have not been dashed yet. A season full of promise.
The Expos were robbed. My heart bleeds for poor Larry Walker and Moises Alou. Walker is the Canadian who should have a World Series ring.
The Expor was one of the carismatic team in the past two decades, i remember a Vlad Guerrero whe he play in montreal, for that time i was just a little child from Venezuela admiring "latinos" players, such a great time with Vizquel and Alomar in Cleveland, Galarraga in Colorado. Manny also in Cleveland.
For the closer I invite you formally to my fantasy yahoo league for Steemians, if you you want to check it out go to my last post.
very good story of my Miles Mikolas and Julio Franco .. my favorite player without a doubt is Miguel Cabrera and Jose altuve are my idol of the current beibol obviously because they are Venezuelan like me.
Those are some great players. Lots of good Venezuelans playing these last few years.
in fact most of the super stars of baseball are Latin .. what is your favorite player?
Wow. You're really into baseball. The last baseball game I went to was actually in South Korea. It was an awesome experience.
They do a great job there. If you go to a decent game in Korea, it's similar to a playoff atmosphere in the states. Lots of fun.
I went to one in Busan which is well known for having the most hyped crowd in the country. There were cheerleaders, upbeat music, the whole crowd was dancing, singing, and chanting... The atmosphere was wild.
I'm from Argentina, soccer is very popular here, but when we were kids in our neighborhood we started playing baseball (with the elements we had at the time and a lot of imagination) I remember that we ended up enjoying baseball a lot (after several accidents and many lost balls, little by little we stop playing it). But whenever I see a movie about this sport or read a post like yours, for example I remember those beautiful and funny days, surrounded by childhood friends, full of innocence and mischief . Thanks for the post, I'm going to find some paper handkerchiefs. Greetings.
Wonderful! Soccer/futbol is a great sport also. I'm glad you have some strong memories of playing both. All kids really need is a ball (and, for baseball, a stick to hit it).
This post has received a 25.00 % upvote from @sharkbank thanks to: @justinashby.
@donkeypong
I am studying in sports majors, surely one day I will take the Baseball course, this post is very useful for me as well as my college reference too, thank you very much brother.
I did not had the opportunity to play but only watch
Yeah...lm from Turkey....l like this game....
It's really great post about a wonderful game @donkeypong.
Playing baseball is a good way to get both vigorous and moderate exercise. Baseball works many different muscle groups,especially the arms, thighs and lower legs. This sport also develops hand-eye coordination, quick thinking and reaction skills. Joining a team sport is an ideal way to make friends while at the same time getting a healthy dose of exercise.
Running, catching, throwing and swimming a bat all provide tremendous strength and cardiovascular benefits for your whole body, as well as helping your burn a lot of calories.
It's about dedication,about how you want to build your carrier.Because of dedication some one can play at the age of 57.If you want to do better then you can make every possible chance to learn playing foreign country.
There is some story about some very dedicated and inspirational story of sports man.If you work hard you will be succeed.In any parts of your life hard work and dedication is much needed thing in life.Thanks for sharing this post with us.@upvoted and resteemed
Miles Mikolas made a tough decision that many would never even give a chance to think about. A tough call to go to Japan is a decision he'll live to feel grateful for.. And at the moment he has no regrets whatsoever.
Sometimes life calls for these moments to make a step ahead of the current position your in. Realising your weakness and knowing the effort you've got to put in to put your name out their among the chants is a sacrifice that makes a difference in a person's life. Am inspired by Miles Mikolas.. he has shown me a great character of looking for all ways of winning.
Baseball just needs a little bit more attention and maybe financing by the government and we will all watch it's full potentials bring realized. I mean players like Miles Mikolas can rise high to be as great as Christiano Ronaldo of football or even greater.
More attention should be paid to players who are likely not going to disappear to foreign lands and soon as they get a name for themselves . The government and people should carefully pick on and support players who will likely remain to play for and improve the local leagues and maybe, just maybe baseball can could rise to the level of football
We don't have baseball, we have cricket.
But watching on TV, baseball seemed more attractive
That is really an opportunity for them to redeem themselves, get back on track and return to the game fully fit......:)
In our place of indonesia this game has never been played, it seems from what I see very difficult. Hopefully one day this game will be popular also by the people of Indonesia.
Is this game one of the most popular in your place @donkeypong? This is really incredible from the professional players I have noticed. @donkeypong, warm greetings to you from INDONESIA 😊🙏
Wow..l have enjoyed this share...and good game it is .thanks @donkeypong
There's a rainbow always after the rain as what they say. They may svck in game previously but it doesnt mean they are not damn good. Maybe they're just having the baddest time of their lives. There's always another shot for redemption and Im sensing is one of the best place for it :D
Nice article. I wish I could write about sports like this. I'm one of those guys who don't have time for sports.
I can't remember the last time I sat in front of the TV yo watch football.
There always comes a time in people's life where they get an opportunity to make things better.. Hopefully this makes things better and the players get full advantage of it..
Such a great comeback for those baseball player. Guess there were not given the much needed attention in the US and can easily be replaced. Going to Japan or Korea, they are been given the time to put things in place and no pressure. Pressure makes people lose focus. They discovered themselves and even more while outside the US. Still surprise, Julio Franco plays at 56.
Truly this kind of sport has been a part of the lifestyle of your people and i will not be surprised that in the same way this will be used also as a platform for unity and great advancement of your nation. Thanks @donkeypong for impliedly restating the importance of sports.
When talent, skills, passion, income met - Julio Franco is one of the examples. He is paid for his enjoyment. Ageless indeed! At age 57, still playing. Others doesnt even have an strength to walk straight at that age.
This great story of yours has made me gain great interest in baseball. Thank you for this @donkeypong
Nice article for sure brotha, and that's crazy to see.. Seems like there are better options elsewhere anyway though!
A great sport... Um a big fan... Thanks for sharing@donkeypong
good
very interesting game, i like it.
I still don't understand this game. For us Australians, baseball is like Footy for Americans. I guess we never gonna understand each others :)
It's very interesting to read my top 5 listed popular baseball gaming posting @donkeypong. Very nice to hear you spend some time for watch few Spring training games under the your busy condition. I watch some popular league baseball games via internet TV. Don't missed every chance of best baseball gaming. Interesting to see Mikolas's career story. I'm also played baseball over 01 year. But after damaged my knee I leave from playing but not leave from watching.
cool sport profile
I have never played baseball because we really don't have any baseball grounds in my place... Anyways i do want to play it someday, maybe for that i need to travel... Anyways its great listening to there story..