Hong-Chih Kuo

Infobox MLB player


width = 150
name=Hong-Chih Kuo
position=Starting Pitcher
team=Los Angeles Dodgers
number=56
bats=Left
throws=Left
birthdate=birth date and age|1981|7|23
birthplace=city-state|Tainan City|Taiwan
debutdate=September 2
debutyear=2005
debutteam=Los Angeles Dodgers
statyear=September 14, 2008
stat1label=Win-Loss
stat1value=7-13
stat2label=Earned Run Average
stat2value=3.90
stat3label=Strikeouts
stat3value=204
teams=
*Los Angeles Dodgers (by|2005-present)

Hong-Chih Kuo (Traditional Chinese: 郭泓志; pinyin: Guō Hóngzhì) (born July 23, 1981 in Tainan City, Taiwan) is a Major League Baseball pitcher with the Los Angeles Dodgers. When Kuo made his debut in by|2005, he became the fourth MLB player from Taiwan (after Chin-Feng Chen, Chin-hui Tsao, and Chien-Ming Wang).

Kuo pitched for Taiwan in the Asian Games and Chinese Taipei in the inaugural World Baseball Classic, allowing three earned runs in two games of work.

Los Angeles Dodgers

Kuo was signed as a free agent by the Dodgers on June 19 1999, but elbow problems prevented him from participating with the team. He underwent two Tommy John surgeries in by|2000 and by|2003, respectively. [Plunkett, Bill [http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/sports/atoz/article_1113275.php Dodgers believe Kuo still on course] ", The Orange County Register, 4/21/2006"] It wasn't until 2005 that Kuo was able to pitch again on a consistent basis. That year, he pitched 11 games for the Vero Beach Dodgers and 17 games for the Jacksonville Suns before coming out of the bullpen for his Major League debut on September 2 2005 against the Colorado Rockies.

2006 season

Kuo started the 2006 season as a relief pitcher. After giving up 8 earned runs on 15 walks in only 13 innings pitched in April, he was sent down to the Dodger's AAA affiliate in Las Vegas. That May and June in AAA he posted a 3.75 ERA in Las Vegas in 12 innings, striking out 18, but walking 8. He was called up by the Dodgers in June. Over June and July 2006, Kuo had a miserable 5.74 ERA in 14.1 IP.

Back in Las Vegas for most of July, the Dodgers decided to start Kuo rather than work him out of the bullpen, hoping that the increased innings would give him a chance to improve his control and that ample rest between appearances would protect his fragile elbow. His ERA in July was 5.19, with 17 Ks and 8 BB in 17.1 IP. However, in his last start of the month, he had his longest appearance in several years, pitching 5 shutout innings. Hong-Chic built upon that with an 1.14 ERA in 5 August starts, striking out 28 in 23.2 innings.On September 8, 2006, Kuo made his first start in the major leagues after more then 30 relief appearances. In his debut, he tossed six shutout innings and lead the Dodgers to a 5-0 victory over the New York Mets. His next three starts were largely successful, and Kuo ended the season with a 2.59 ERA as a starter.

2007 season

A spring training injury kept Kuo from starting the 2007 season in the rotation, but Kuo eventually reclaimed his role as a starting pitcher for the Dodgers.

On June 12, 2007, Kuo hit a 412-foot home run and became the first Taiwanese player to hit a home run in the MLB. [Gurnick, Ken [http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/news/gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20070612&content_id=2021941&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=la Kuo adds long ball to long journey] ", MLB.com, 6/13/2007"] He also picked up his first win of the season at that game.

2008 season

Kuo started the season competing with Esteban Loaiza for the fifth starter spot in the Dodgers rotation. Off-season elbow surgery raised doubts about his endurance, so Kuo was made a long-reliever by manager Joe Torre. He has excelled in this role as well as serving in middle relief and set-up.

A particular pitching performance of note came against the New York Mets on May 6th. Kuo came in during the 4th inning in relief of Hiroki Kuroda, and pitched 3 and 2/3 scoreless innings without giving up a hit and striking out 8 of the 12 batters he faced, securing his second victory of the year. As of August 9th, Hong-Chih has a 1.82 ERA with 77 strikeouts in 64 and 1/3 innings.

Pitching Style

Despite having had four surgeries on his elbow alone, Kuo can still sit low to mid-90s with his fastball. With that velocity and late movement even right-handed batters find Kuo difficult to hit, having amassed a combined .565 OPS(2008). He accompanies the fastball with a slider, curveball, and a changeup. Kuo's command has been an issue at times, and walks have hurt him in the past.

Controversy

Kuo and three other Taiwanese players tested positive for banned stimulants before joining the 2006 Asian Games in Doha. The players explained that they had taken cold/pain medications containing a banned substance and due to their innocent situation, all of them were cleared to play in the Asian Games by the Taiwan's Olympic Committee. [http://cbs.sportsline.com/mlb/story/10056475/rss]

References

External links

*Baseballstats |mlb=425539 |espn=6415 |br=k/kuoho01 |fangraphs=7016 |cube=k/Hong-Chih-Kuo