Versatile Veteran Charlie Culberson Attempting Surprise Transition to Pitcher
After 11 years as a utility extraordinaire, Charlie Culberson tries to remake himself as a pitcher at age 34. The longtime Atlanta Braves supersub signed a new minor league contract with the organization, reporting to minor league camp with designs on cracking the big league staff as a reliever.
In recent years, Culberson has logged MLB time at every position except catcher and center field but has yet to find meaningful at-bats. His new path will be challenging but not unprecedented. Fellow utility player Jason Martin returned to the Pirates organization as a pitcher last season after failing to hit in the upper minors.
Culberson brings high spin rates and a mid-90s fastball from his short MLB pitching cameos. He’ll likely start in Triple-A, where he made four impressive relief appearances last season. While an unlikely career switch, the fan favorite’s hustle and versatility have endeared him to Braves fans. It would be a great story in Atlanta if he can carry that success to the mound.
Matt Davidson Takes Power Bat to Korea after Quad-A MLB Career
Matt Davidson is taking his power bat abroad after failing to establish himself as a big-league regular. The corner infielder signed a one-year, $560K contract with the NC Dinos of the Korean Baseball Organization. Davidson will try to replicate his consistent Triple-A production in the KBO after striking out too often in limited MLB time.
Across eight Triple-A seasons, Davidson owns a strong .253/.335/.479 batting line with 163 home runs. But in 311 games with four MLB clubs, he has struggled to make consistent contact, resulting in a .220 batting average and a 34.3% strikeout rate. His raw power has kept him on big-league fringes, but teams eventually lost patience with the swing-and-miss.
Davidson heads to his second Asian stint after hitting 19 homers for the Hiroshima Carp of Nippon Professional Baseball last season. The KBO could better fit his extreme fly ball, low batting average approach. If he curbs the strikeouts, his power should play well overseas.
Andre Jackson Heads to Japan Seeking Rotation Opportunity
After failing to cement himself in the big leagues, pitching prospect Andre Jackson is getting a fresh opportunity overseas. The 27-year-old righty signed with Nippon Professional Baseball’s Yokohama BayStars. He’ll likely slot into their starting rotation after working primarily as a reliever in MLB.
Jackson has an intriguing four-pitch mix but has struggled with command throughout his career. Between the Dodgers, Pirates and Triple-A, he owns a solid 26% strikeout rate but a disappointing 12.7% walk rate. The Pirates experimented with using Jackson as a starter last season before ultimately deciding the volatility wasn’t worth a roster spot.
With no options remaining and his career at a crossroads, Jackson bet on his NPB talent. Foreign players often rebuild value pitching in Asia before returning stateside. Given Jackson’s age and raw stuff, returning to MLB in future years is possible if he finds consistency overseas.
Mets Add Lefty Danny Young on Minor League Deal
Still searching for bullpen depth, the Mets signed southpaw Danny Young to a minor league contract with an invite to big league Spring Training. When healthy in 2022, Young fired 11 innings of one-run ball out of the Braves’ bullpen.
Arm injuries limited Young in 2023, but he brings a career 2.45 ERA and 12.3 K/9 rate over 30 MLB innings. Young also has an option year remaining, making him a flexible depth piece if he can win a job this spring. The Mets were linked to several lefty relievers earlier this offseason but have yet to make a Major League addition.
Giants Take Flier on Former Cardinals Flamethrower Jordan Hicks
The San Francisco Giants made an intriguing signing by inking former St. Louis Cardinals reliever Jordan Hicks to a four-year, $44 million contract. The Giants plan to convert the 27-year-old Hicks back into a starting pitcher, a role he hasn’t filled consistently since early in his minor league career.
Hicks possesses an electric right arm, averaging over 100 mph on his fastball during his Cardinals tenure. San Francisco is betting he can stay healthy enough to handle the rigors of a starting workload, which has been an issue throughout his career. Hicks underwent Tommy John surgery in 2019 and has topped 70 innings pitched just once as a pro.
When on the mound, Hicks couples his triple-digit heat with a sharp slider in the mid-80s. He’ll need to develop his changeup to neutralize lefties as a starter. But the Giants have had success helping pitchers maximize their potential, most notably Kevin Gausman, and will work to refine Hicks’ arsenal. If his transition to the rotation sticks, a 1-2 punch of Hicks and ace Logan Webb could give San Francisco a dominant rotation duo to build around.
Matt Davidson Attempting KBO Rebound
Former top prospect Matt Davidson is taking his power/swing-and-miss profile to South Korea after failing to stick as a big league regular. The 33-year-old signed a one-year, $800K contract with the NC Dinos of the KBO League. Davidson consistently exhibited light tower power but an excessive strikeout rate across multiple Triple-A stints.
He struck out in 34.3% of his MLB plate appearances, dragging his average down to .220 and forcing him out of prominent roles. But Davidson could thrive in the hitter-friendly KBO if he makes more contact. He launched 19 home runs for the Hiroshima Carp of Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan last season and will serve as one of the Dinos’ three allotted foreign players.
