July 5, 2024

By Tyson Shushkewich

Canadian Baseball Network

Another Canadian player is taking their talents overseas, as it was announced late Wednesday evening that right-hander Jordan Balazovic (Mississauga, Ont.) would be joining the Doosan Bears of the Korean Baseball Organization (KBO) on a deal worth $250,000 (USD).

Jeeho Yoo, of Yonhap News based in Seoul, South Korea, was the first to report the transaction.

Before signing with the Bears, Balazovic, 25, was pitching for the Minnesota Twins’ triple-A St. Paul Saints. He had posted a 5-4 record and a 5.60 ERA in 24 relief appearances with the Saints this season.

Balazovic has spent his entire career with the Twins organization after being drafted by the franchise in the fifth round in 2016.

By 2019, Balazovic had worked his way to high-A Fort Myers and was considered a top prospect within the organization. Following the cancelled 2020 minor league season, the Ontario Blue Jays alum had made the jump to double-A and amassed a 3.62 ERA in 97 innings with the Wichita Wind Surge and posted a 9.5 K/9.

In 2022, Balazovic dealt with some roadblocks that changed the trajectory of his career on the mound. He began the year in triple-A and started the season on the IL before returning in early May and struggling with his command to the tune of a 4.5 BB/9. While he was striking out opposing batters at a 9.7 K/9 rate, he was also leaving pitches over the plate and opponents authored a 13.0 H/9 to the tune of 58 earned runs through 70 2/3 innings.

Following the 2022 campaign, the Twins moved Balazovic to the bullpen where he made some improvements with St. Paul – a 5.32 ERA through 45 2/3 innings with 54 strikeouts – but his command was still shaky, authoring a 6.3 BB/9 on the year. The high strikeout rate saw the Canuck get promoted to the big leagues in mid-June when Jorge Lopez went on the injured list. The right-hander would spend just over two months in the Twins’ bullpen, posting a 4.44 ERA and a 6.01 FIP, while seeing a dip in his strikeout rates (6.3 K/9), in 24 1/3 innings in 18 appearances. Balazovic held opponents off the scoreboard in 12 of those appearances and had a four-game stretch from July 14 to July 24 in which he didn’t allow a run before he was sent back to the Saints in mid-August.

Just before the start of the 2024 season, the Twins designated Balazovic for assignment and he cleared waivers and was outrighted to triple-A where he has spent the entire season until signing with the KBO club.

Balazovic will be the first Canadian to suit up in the KBO since Jamie Romak (London, Ont.) with the SSG Landers back in 2021. The Doosan Bears currently hold a 46-30 record and sit in third place in the overall standings.