Fedde discusses his KBO foray, return to the bigs with Sox
This browser does not support the video element.
The last time Erick Fedde was on a Major League mound, he allowed nine runs in 2 1/3 innings in a loss to the Mets on the final day of the 2022 regular season.
That ugly outing left him with a 5.81 ERA across 127 innings that year and a 5.41 career ERA in six seasons with the Nationals. The 2014 first-round Draft pick needed a fresh start.
He found that in Korea, where he was the best pitcher in the KBO in 2023. The right-hander went 20-6 with a 2.00 ERA, 209 strikeouts and only 35 walks across 180 1/3 innings for the NC Dinos. Fedde’s spectacular season earned him the Choi Dong-won Award, the KBO equivalent of the Cy Young. It also made him an attractive free agent to a handful of clubs this offseason.
Fedde told MLB Network Radio on Monday that he received competitive offers from four or five teams, but he felt like the White Sox represented the best fit for him in his return to the Majors. The two sides finalized a two-year, $15 million contract on Dec. 13.
This browser does not support the video element.
“It was a place where I knew I could fit into the rotation pretty quickly and be a guy that hopefully they leaned on, could pitch up at the top part of that rotation and try to help a team get going again,” Fedde said.
He added that he likes the shared vision between general manager Chris Getz, pitching coach Ethan Katz and senior advisor to pitching Brian Bannister. Each person stressed to Fedde their desire to create a new culture for a club that lost 101 games last season, its most since 1970.
That change includes an infusion of experience and leadership as the White Sox have brought aboard a handful of veteran pitchers this winter. Besides Fedde, they also signed left-handed reliever Tim Hill and right-handed starter Chris Flexen, acquired righty starter Michael Soroka in a trade with the Braves and have agreed to a deal with right-handed reliever John Brebbia, per a source.
“I think it's just kind of bringing in those guys who know what it really looks like to win and just kind of trying to share that wealth of knowledge,” Fedde said. “It's exciting.”
Enjoyed the info from this interview? Get 3 Months Free and listen to SiriusXM MLB Network Radio and much more. Visit www.siriusxm.com/mlbnr for offer details.