David Buchanan, age 36, who excelled as an ace for the Samsung Lions in the Korea Baseball Organization, did not make the Texas Rangers' opening roster. This year, he will also start the season in the minor leagues.

MLB.com reporter Kennedy Landry noted on the 24th (Korean time) the eight players who did not make the opening day roster announced by Chris Young, the Director General of Texas. Pitchers Adrian Houser, Joe Barlow, JT Chargois, Buchanan, Matt Festa, catcher Tucker Barnhart, Chad Wallach, and infielder Nick Ahmed were all cut from the Texas opening roster.

The most notable name is Buchanan. After signing a minor league contract with Texas in early January and joining spring training as a non-roster invitee, Buchanan suffered a left ankle sprain during defensive drills early in camp, delaying his appearance in games. He made his debut in a spring game on the 4th after a two-week hiatus but had a rough start against the Kansas City Royals, allowing 3 hits, 1 walk, and 3 earned runs in just ⅓ inning.

Afterward, Buchanan found some stability with two consecutive outings of 1 inning without allowing an earned run. On the 14th, he pitched 3 innings against the San Francisco Giants, allowing 3 hits, no walks, striking out 1 and giving up 1 earned run, earning a save in the process. However, his overall spring training statistics were poor: 5⅓ innings, 8 hits, 2 walks, 2 strikeouts, and 5 earned runs for an earned run average of 5.06, which ultimately led to him not making the opening roster.

Texas's starting rotation is made up of Jacob deGrom, Nathan Eovaldi, Tyler Mahle, Kumar Rocker, and Jack Leiter. They signed veteran left-hander Patrick Corbin as a fifth starter with a one-year, $1 million contract, which pushed out one of their existing starting pitchers, Korean-American Dane Dunning, who was placed on waivers. The bullpen consists of Chris Martin, Luke Jackson, Robert Garcia, Shawn Armstrong, Jacob Webb, and Hobie Milner. Buchanan is competing for the last two bullpen spots but has been edged out.

Buchanan signed a split contract with Texas that includes a base salary of $1,375,000 (approximately 20 billion won) if he makes it to the Major League. Since he has not made the opening roster, the actual amount he will receive is expected to be significantly less. If he doesn't make it to the Major League, even $1,375,000 will be just a fantasy.

Buchanan had a resurgence in Korea from 2020 to 2023. Over four years, he pitched in 113 games (699⅔ innings), achieving 54 wins and 28 losses with an earned run average of 3.02, and striking out 539 batters. During that period, he ranked first in the league for total wins and innings pitched, second for strikeouts, and third in earned run average among pitchers who threw more than 500 innings.

Known for his competitive spirit and charisma, Buchanan was beloved by players and fans alike. However, after finishing the 2023 season, he was unable to re-sign with Samsung. While Samsung offered the KBO's first multi-year contract to a foreign player, they could not reach a financial agreement, resulting in a failed negotiation.

Buchanan signed a minor league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies in a bid to return to the Major League, but opportunities for a call-up were scarce. After being traded to the Cincinnati Reds for cash at the end of August, he was called up and made his big league return on September 1 against the Milwaukee Brewers after 9 years. He pitched well in relief for 3⅓ innings, allowing 2 hits, 2 walks, and 1 strikeout while giving up 1 run, but was designated for assignment the next day and sent back to the minor leagues.

This year, Buchanan signed a minor league contract with Texas to continue his career, but he did not make the opening roster. Now he will start the season in Triple-A, facing a challenging road ahead. Had he stayed in Korea, his situation would not have been so uncertain.

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