Korean Baseball Organization Players to Know: Wilin Rosario

Recent years have seen KBO players produce surprising fantasy results when they come stateside. They were pleasant surprises for the most part, so can Wilin Rosario be the next star?

Seung Hwan Oh’s 19 saves and 103 strikeouts in 2016, Jung Ho Kang’s 15 homers in 2015, and Eric Thames this season are all examples of KBO players producing at the MLB level.

Let’s start with a somewhat familiar face in Wilin Rosario. He was Colorado’s starting catcher for most of five seasons from 2011 to 2015. In that span, he hit 71 homers and drove in 241 runs. Over half of those stats came in two seasons (2012-2013), and Rosario was out of the league by 2015.

His batted ball profile was what ultimately cratered his value in the MLB. His fly ball rate dropped from 36.5% in 2012 to 25.6% in 2015. Likewise, his ground ball rate rose from 46.2% in 2012 to 54.5% in 2015. By hitting more ground balls, he was not able to reach the same home run production, which resulted in becoming an anemic bat.

Rosario, a splits nightmare, fared far better at home in Coors (106 wRC+) than away (80 wRC+) in his career. He flamed out quickly, but has the less-competitive KBO allowed his skills to mature?

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In two seasons in the KBO with the Hanwha Eagles, Rosario has hit 63 home runs and driven in 207 runs. This does not make me think Rosario has blossomed into a better hitter; however, this does assure me that he can still stroke it circa 2012.

Moving from catcher to first base has allowed Rosario to steadfastly focus on his offensive profile while also keeping his body fresh down the stretch.

On the Rockies, Rosario maxed out at 121 games and 466 plate appearances whereas his first full season in the KBO saw him play 127 games (full KBO season is 144 games), collecting 532 plate appearances.

This season, Rosario has tallied 411 plate appearances over 93 games, but his productivity, more than his durability, is what could push a return to the major leagues.

Still only 28 years old, he has shown signs of a change in approach in the KBO. In 2016, he had a 6.8% BB% and a 16.9% K%, but so far this season, both have improved with his BB% up to 8.9% and his K% down to 11.5%. Putting more balls in play by striking out less pushes his home run potential to new heights.

Fantasy Impact

It might be too early to tell where this Rosario could land since we are not sure if he is coming back over yet. He was rumored to be looking for a return stateside after his stellar 2016 campaign. Ultimately he stayed in the KBO for $1.5 million a year, but after another stellar season, a little more money could come his way and convince him to move back stateside.

Although he won’t receive a multi-year Thames-like contract, Rosario could garner a 1-year deal similar to Dae-Ho Lee in 2016 albeit slightly more lucrative. A short deal with a team lacking power could be the launching pad to revamp his career.

However, the overflowing market for home-run-hitting first basemen hurts Rosario’s standard fantasy value, but as a late draft or deep league flier, he could still pay dividends for any teams ISO. Rosario’s major impact in the fantasy community could be in the DFS world.

Before the KBO, he crushed lefties to the tune of a 144 wRC+ for his MLB career. Rosario could provide cheap home run potential against southpaws.

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That is the big IF though. At least you know what Wilin Rosario has been doing overseas IF he comes back stateside.