Outfielder Estevan Florial has agreed to a contract with the KBO’s Hanwha Eagles, stories Jon Heyman of the New York Submit. He had been outrighted by the Guardians earlier this summer time and elected free company on the finish of the season.
Florial signed with the Yankees as a global free agent in 2015. He shortly started turning heads within the group together with his robust efficiency within the low minors. Coming into the 2019 season, MLB Pipeline, Baseball America, and FanGraphs all ranked him because the primary prospect within the system. He was as toolsy as they arrive, with plus pace, large uncooked energy, and a strong throwing arm in middle area.
Sadly, Florial by no means discovered a method to faucet into all his potential on the highest stage. Over elements of 4 seasons with the Yankees from 2020-23, he appeared in simply 48 video games, slashing .209/.313/.296 with a 75 wRC+. The Yankees traded him to the Guardians after the 2023 season, and he earned extra enjoying time in Cleveland, showing in 36 video games for the Guardians in April and Might. Nonetheless, his outcomes have been simply as poor. Over 111 journeys to the plate, he put up a .173/.264/.367 batting line, good for an 80 wRC+. Cleveland designated him for project on the finish of Might, and he spent the remainder of the season with the Triple-A Columbus Clippers.
Though Florial didn’t look any higher with the Clippers than he did with the Guardians (.213 AVG, 83 wRC+), he has had success at Triple-A within the latest previous. From 2022-23, he put up a formidable .283/.374/.523 slash-line over 202 video games for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders. In that point, he hit 43 residence runs, stole 64 bases, and produced a 127 wRC+. It’s that stage of efficiency the Eagles are certainly hoping he’ll replicate in his first season within the KBO.
