According to Jeeho Yoo of the Yonhap News Agency, former Phillies pitcher Tyler Cloyd has signed with the Samsung Lions, a team overseas of Korea Professional Baseball.
First #KBO foreign player signing of 2015: Samsung Lions acquire RHP Tyler Cloyd (ex-Phillies); $550K in salary, $100K in signing bonus
— Jeeho Yoo (@Jeeho_1) January 8, 2015
Cloyd, 27, was drafted by the Phillies in the 18th round of the 2008 amateur draft. With the Phillies, he is most remembered for his outstanding season in the minors in 2012, which led him to be named the International League's Most Valuable Pitcher. He combined for a 15-1 record with a 2.26 ERA, throwing with both the Reading Phillies and Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs.
The right-hander spent nearly five seasons in the minors before making his Major League debut on August 29, 2012 against the New York Mets. Cloyd threw six innings, allowing three earned runs on seven hits and two walks. He received the losing decision, as the Phillies' offense only managed two runs on six hits with runs batted in from Jimmy Rollins and Ryan Howard.
In 19 games with Philadelphia over 2012 and 2013, Cloyd struggled to mirror his success in the lower ranks of the system. He went 4-9 with a 5.98 ERA, allowing 62 earned runs in 93.1 innings of work. In October of 2013, Cloyd was selected off of waivers by the Cleveland Indians and remained with that franchise up until this past Tuesday, when it was announced he has been released to "afford him an opportunity to pitch in Korea."
Cloyd, in 2014, went 10-8 with a 3.89 ERA entirely with the Indians' Triple-A Columbus Clippers. He pitched a no-hitter last season, and came near a perfect game if it wasn't for him hitting a batter in the ninth.
Matt Rappa (@mattrappa) is a contributor to Philliedelphia.com.
