Josh Lindblom has not traced the typical trajectory that most major leaguers follow when their careers drop them in the Korean Baseball Organization. Whereas many observers think the Asian professional leagues are a graveyard for North American baseball players, Lindblom, who had an uneven career pitching over five seasons in the major leagues, has flourished in South Korea at age 32.

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This year with the Korean Series champion Doosan Bears the right-hander established himself as one of the best pitchers in the KBO and became the first to win back-to-back Choi Dong-won awards, KBO’s Cy Young equivalent. One of the league’s most durable starters, Lindblom had a 20-3 record during the regular season and led all pitchers in wins, strikeouts and other top categories while finishing second in ERA. As a result, he has attracted renewed interest from major-league organizations as well as professional teams in Japan.

A fifth-year KBO veteran, Lindblom has not only thrived on the field but also off the field by transitioning into and embracing Korean culture.  He considers his adaptability a key to his success. He now can go out anywhere in Korea, read signs in Korean, find restaurants and even sing the Korean national anthem by heart. Such openness also comes from understanding that things are just going to be different on the other side of the world. For some, it’s a daunting task. However, it’s one that they can decide to conquer and overcome.

“The biggest thing for me is not playing the comparison game,” Lindblom said recently during an interview at a Korean BBQ restaurant in Seoul. “What I mean by that is that you show up and the first thing you do is compare Korea to the U.S., and you can’t do that. It’s like comparing an apple to an airplane. You’re in a different country. But just because they’re different, doesn’t mean it’s better or worse. It just means it is different.

“One of the best pieces of advice I got when I came was, ‘You can’t have one foot in the States and another in Korea.’”

Having been around the KBO since 2015, Lindblom has seen other foreign players flourish or fail in the league. He feels that there is a common denominator among players that fail to adapt to South Korea and the KBO. “I think some guys come over with a particular expectation, and it’s not what they thought it would be,” Lindblom said. “Immediately, they shut down mentally. They tell themselves that they don’t want to be there. Every little thing on and off the field annoys them, and it affects their performance.  It is a poor mental approach to being here.

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“The one common denominator is a failure to embrace where you are. You can’t enjoy the fact that you’re playing baseball in a foreign country, an opportunity that a lot of people would love to have but never get.”

His ease in Korean society was evident at the restaurant. After a quick glance at the menu, Lindblom decided that “beef is beef, especially in Korea: You cannot go wrong with what you choose here.” He decided on a “set menu” — an assortment of different types of meat of choice, something that’s very common in Korea. After he rang the table bell, the server arrived. “Excuse me,” Lindblom said in perfect Korean. “Assorted beef set, please.” The server made sure she got the order right and did a double-take to see who put in the order.

Of the 34 foreigners who played in the KBO in 2018, 11 were retained by their respective teams this season. In a league where few foreigners play beyond a single season, Lindblom stands out in that ruthless environment.

Notable foreign players who have pitched five or more seasons in the KBO

PlayerTeam(s)Career Record
Josh LindblomLotte Giants (2015-17)

Doosan Bears (18~Present)

63-34, 3.53 ERA, 818 IP, 214 BB, 747 K
Dustin NippertDoosan Bears (2011-17)

KT Wiz (2018)

102-51, 3.59 ERA, 1291.1 IP, 420 BB, 1082 K
Henry SosaKIA Tigers (2012-13)

Nexen Heroes (2014)

LG Twins (2015-18)

SK Wyverns (2019-)

76-63, 4.30 ERA, 1285.1 IP, 315 BB, 1054 K
Andy Van HekkenNexen Heroes (2012-17)73-42, 3.56 ERA, 925.2 IP, 299 BB, 860 K
Eric HackerNC Dinos (2013-17)

Nexen Heroes (2018)

61-37, 3.67 ERA, 935.2 IP, 248 BB, 675 K
Brooks RaleyLotte Giants (2015-Present)48-52, 4.12 ERA, 907.2 IP, 270 BB, 751 K

A native of Lafayette, Ind., Lindblom was a second-round pick by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2008 out of Purdue University. He was called up to the majors in 2011 and played with four major-league teams — Dodgers, Phillies, Rangers and Athletics — before heading to Korea in 2015. Primarily used as a middle reliever, he had his best major-league season in 2012, when he split time between the Dodgers and Phillies and went 3-5 with a 3.55 ERA in 71 innings with 70 strikeouts and 35 walks. He pitched for Korea’s Lotte Giants in 2015 and 2016, returned to the majors for a brief stint with the Pirates in 2017, signed with Lotte for the second half of that season, and has been pitching for the Doosan Bears since 2018.

This year in 30 starts Lindblom had a 20-3 record with a 2.50 ERA in 194 2/3 innings pitched, 189 strikeouts, 29 walks and a 1.00 WHIP. He led the league in wins, strikeouts, WHIP, K/9 (8.74), BB/9 (1.34), K/BB (6.52) and WPA (4.44); his ERA was second only to KIA Tigers left-handed pitcher Yang Hyeon-jong’s 2.29. On Aug. 25, he tied the KBO record for reaching the 20-win milestone in fewest starts at 25, putting his name alongside former Bears pitcher Dustin Nippert, who accomplished the feat in 2016. His 6.88 WAR was second in the league and the highest of his career.

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In the recently completed Korean Series, the KBO’s equivalent of the World Series, the Bears swept the Kiwoom Heroes in four games. In the opening game, Lindblom went five innings, giving up four hits and an earned run while striking out five.

Scouts from MLB and high-level Nippon Professional Baseball teams in Japan have taken notice. Several MLB teams including the Cubs, Rays, Dodgers, Cardinals, Tigers, Marlins, Blue Jays, Rangers and Yankees observed Lindblom’s starts this year. From Japan, the Hanshin Tigers have monitored him for the past two seasons, and scouts from the Yomiuri Giants, Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks and Saitama Seibu Lions have all been keeping tabs.

Whether Lindblom’s success in Korea could translate to formidability in the major leagues is anyone’s guess. The last time he played professionally in the United States, in early 2017, he had modest success at Triple A in the Pittsburgh organization. But when the big club promoted him in May of that season, he gave up nine earned runs in 10 ⅓ innings and was soon headed back to Korea after his release.

Lindblom would argue that he’s a much different pitcher now, having greatly expanded his pitch repertoire and his proficiency over the last couple of seasons in Korea.

Josh Lindblom Josh Lindblom with the Pirates in 2017. (Charles LeClaire / USA TODAY Sports)

When he first arrived in Busan, Lindblom did not know what he was in for. “Not going to lie. Having never been to Asia, I did not know what to expect,” he said, “but you get to Korea, and you see how developed and modernized it is. It is one of the largest cities in the world, and you have everything you need.”

Lindblom quickly realized that to meet the new challenge of living and playing across the Pacific, he needed to acclimate himself to the Korean culture. “Being comfortable in the country, being able to speak and read the language a little — that helped the transition a lot,” he said.

Lindblom took active steps to integrate himself. Before reporting to his first KBO spring training, he participated in a three-day Korean acculturation seminar. Alongside him were right-handed pitcher Merrill Kelly, then a newcomer to the SK Wyverns, and left-handed pitcher Brooks Raley and outfielder Jim Adduci, who were both in their first seasons with the Lotte Giants. The seminar was led by Han Lee, the CEO and founder of the GSI agency and now Lindblom’s representative. The seminar touched on many aspects of life in Korea beyond baseball, including the culture, food and language.

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“I don’t think anything can fully prepare you coming to a foreign country,” Lindblom recalled. “But when I showed up to spring training, I at least had an idea of my surroundings and had a basic understanding. Getting to try different Korean foods ahead of time and learn about the culture put me a bit at ease during the first few weeks of camp.

“I felt somewhat prepared for what I was getting into.”

Lindblom also sought advice from fellow foreign players who had been in the league for a while. During his first year, he received “huge help” from Australian-born right-handed pitcher Chris Oxpring, a five-year KBO vet.

And, of course, entering the league with Kelly, Raley and Adduci helped out. “We were able to talk, share stories, experiences, help each other, and deal with some of the other challenges of living abroad.

“We were able to deal with it all together.”

Josh Lindblom in Korea Josh Lindblom (Sung Min Kim / The Athletic)

Lindblom started his KBO career on the right foot. He remembers his first game vividly. In my previous interview with him for FanGraphs back in July, Lindblom recalled the electric atmosphere. “I’ll never forget the first game I pitched in Korea,” he said. “I thought, in the first inning, that my heart was going to beat out of my chest. I had never experienced anything like it. Music blaring, drums, it was unbelievable.”

Once he got adjusted to the new environment, he became the team’s ace and finished the season with a 13-11 record, a 3.56 ERA in 210 innings pitched, 180 strikeouts and 52 walks. His inning-eating ability and effectiveness endeared him to the Lotte fans, earning him the nickname Lin Dong-won (린동원), which is a pun off the legendary 1980s Giants ace Choi Dong-won.

His 2016 season, however, was not as smooth. He will be the first to tell you he “stunk.” In 30 starts, Lindblom went 10-13 with a 5.28 ERA in 177 1/3 innings pitched with 148 strikeouts and 77 walks. “I think I was a little tired coming into 2016, not knowing how to prepare after a season like the one I just had. I had never thrown that many innings in one year.”

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There were more troubling signs in his stats. “If you look at my numbers, I gave up more free passes than I ever had, which was a huge deal. There were other struggles as well – it was the second time the league was facing me, so they had an idea. They knew what I was going to do.”

After the season, life threw a curve at Lindblom and his family. The Lotte Giants declined to pick up his team option for 2017. About the same time, his youngest daughter, Monroe, was born with a congenital heart defect and required a series of open-heart surgeries.

“What we went through with Monroe was the hardest thing we’ve had to endure as a family,” Lindblom recalled. “As a parent, all you want to do is help your daughter, and you can’t. I didn’t go to school to be a doctor and perform open-heart surgery. As a family, it was very, very difficult for us.”

It is a reality that Lindblom, his wife, Aurielle, and their two other young children, Presley and Palmer, deal with every day. Monroe had her second open-heart surgery last season and establishing a support system for her has been a priority.

“Baseball is obviously important for us,” Lindblom said. “At the same time, life is bigger than baseball.”

Josh Lindblom family photo (Courtesy of Josh Lindblom)

On Dec. 16, 2016, the Pittsburgh Pirates signed Lindblom to a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training.

“Since Lotte decided not to pick up my option, going to Pittsburgh made sense compared to any other team, because their Triple-A affiliate is in Indianapolis,” Lindblom said, noting its proximity to his family’s home and Monroe’s hospital in Indiana. “I could drive back and forth. Obviously, you want to go back to the majors, but I would’ve been fine being in Triple A all year.”

The adversity inspired his current charity work. He started the Josh Lindblom Foundation in 2012 after his first season in the majors. “It grew out of a passion to help people,” Lindblom said. “However, our passion found us through our daughter. We’re focused on helping children with heart defects and families that are going through what we’ve gone through.”

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Monroe’s surgeon, Dr. Mark Turrentine, has gone to Amman, Jordan, three to four times a year to perform open-heart surgeries on refugee children. “These are kids that don’t have access to doctors or hospitals, Lindblom said. “Without these surgeries, they would most likely die.”

The Lindbloms have funded three of the doctor’s trips, and they are planning to go to Jordan with the team of doctors and nurses from Riley Hospital for Children to support the ailing children and their families. The Lindbloms also visited and invited kids from the Yonsei Severance Hospital with the same heart defect to Doosan Bears games this season. “The families walk in and we all know what each other has gone through,” Lindblom said. “For us, that’s very special.”

Josh Lindblom hospital photo (Courtesy of Josh Lindblom)

“As baseball players, we spend most of the time away from our homes,” Lindblom added, “and the cities that we play in become our second home. Adding to the fact that we are in a foreign country, my wife and I want our kids to feel like Korea is home as much as possible. As a family, part of doing that is giving back to the community.”

In 2017, Lindblom made four starts and pitched in 17 games with Triple-A Indianapolis, compiling a 4.06 ERA in 37 2/3 innings with 33 strikeouts and eight walks. He was promoted to the Pirates in early May of that season and hit a rough patch. After his release in July 2017, Lotte came calling again, so Lindblom went back to Busan for his third year, replacing left-handed pitcher Nick Additon. In his return, he helped Lotte clinch a playoff berth and a third-place finish, after going 5-3 with a 3.72 ERA in 12 starts.

In the offseason, Lindblom’s camp did not reach an agreement with the Lotte Giants, setting him as an unrestricted free agent, which was a unique situation for a foreign player. Typically, in the KBO, a foreign player’s rights are bound to the team he originally signed with for five years (unless their rights are released). But according to SBS News, Lindblom had a clause in his contract that allowed him to become a worldwide free agent at the end of the season. In December 2017, he found a new home with the Seoul-based Doosan Bears for $1.45 million.

“Busan and Seoul are both great cities,” Lindblom said “They are two of the most desired locations in Korea. But in Seoul, the proximity to the airport and access to one of the most advanced public transportation systems makes things easier. You add in the fact how westernized the city is as well – everywhere you go, somebody speaks a little bit of English, which made the transition easier for my wife and kids. It’s hard to find a situation in Korea any better than where we live.”

Lindblom continued his strong performance into the 2018 season, where he went 15-4 with a 2.88 ERA in 168 2/3 innings, 157 strikeouts and 38 walks. He also finished second in the KBO MVP voting, won the Choi Dong-won Award and a Gold Glove Award. His performance earned him another year in the KBO — his fifth — and a $1.92 million deal with Doosan for 2019.

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But the best was yet to come.

In 2019, Lindblom lent a hand to the league’s newcomers who were now in the shoes that he once was.

Even though they are opponents on the field, the foreign players develop solidarity while trying to survive in a league far away from home. Former Detroit Tigers left-handed pitcher Chad Bell, who pitches for the Hanwha Eagles, enjoyed a successful first year in the KBO in 2019 (11-10, 3.50 ERA in 177 1/3 innings with 134 strikeouts and 63 walks.).

With Bell and Lindblom sharing the same agency, Bell recalls asking Lindblom for advice.

“I mainly asked him questions about off-the-field stuff for my family,” Bell said. “We also talked a little bit about baseball. Knowing that he and his family had been over here for a while, it was nice to get some good information that made it easier on your family when you’re moving halfway around the world.”

Bell also sought Lindblom’s guidance for how to succeed on the mound. “One of the things you see is just how consistent he is, especially the past two years,” Bell said. “I asked him questions so that I could try to get a grasp of the league, what KBO hitters were like, and he was nice enough to share a few things with me about his thought process. He really is someone that strives to be a good person and teammate.”

A surefire MVP candidate, Lindblom built on his strong 2018 campaign for a historic 2019 season. He accomplished it with a diligent study of his own arsenal. Because there is not as much analytical data available in the KBO as there is in the majors, Lindblom took it upon himself to compile his own metrics. In the offseason, he threw on a Rapsodo, a performance tool that measures each pitch’s spin rate, vertical and horizontal breaks, spin axis, spin efficiency and other figures.

Josh Lindblom

As a result, his fastball spin rate jumped around 300 rpm over the course of the offseason. Lindblom used to mix four-seam and two-seam fastballs, but after making such improvement, he went to his four-seamer exclusively.

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“Adding analytics to my game plan has helped,” Lindblom said. “Just getting better — a lot of guys come here, and the stigma is that you come to Asia and you end your career. But that’s no longer the case. You come here to play, and there’s an opportunity to get better.”

Lindblom’s four-seam fastball has averaged an impressive 2,600 rpm this season, which would rank in the top 10 in the majors based on Baseball Savant’s leaderboard. He has added a splitter and a cutter to his arsenal, essentially going from a two-pitch (fastball/slider) guy when he first arrived in Korea to a pitcher who can use six pitches.

One of the key attributes to @JoshLindblom52 ‘s success this season has been his nasty splitter. Opposing hitters have only managed to hit .172 against it with a .405 OPS & 46.7% swing percentage. #KBO pic.twitter.com/zititVKN86

— Sung Min Kim (@sung_minkim) August 26, 2019


The numbers reveal that Lindblom has been the best version of himself in 2019. He has embraced analytics to improve and now possesses elite command. He mentions ballplayers like Arizona’s Merrill Kelly, St. Louis’ Miles Mikolas and Eric Thames, who played in Milwaukee the last three seasons. “These are the guys that embraced being in Asia, improved themselves, and seized opportunities to go back to the States,” he said. “That gives hope to everyone that comes to Asia. It is no longer a league where careers go to die.

“You can get better, and this is not the place to come end your career.”

While there seems to be a clear interest from teams outside Korea, Lindblom said he didn’t think about it too much and focused on finishing out the season strong.

Lindblom could become an asset to a major-league team both in performance and leadership. He feels he can bring more than an on-field performance wherever he ends up. “The failures I’ve been through, the adjustments I have made, and the experiences I have gone through off the field have prepared me to help younger players take that next step and realize their potential as major-league players.”

Lindblom also has an additional priority factor: his family.

“Seeing my kids, knowing that they get to be here and experience this, knowing the sacrifices my wife makes — Korea, for us, has been amazing,” Lindblom said. “My son is 4 years old, and seeing his love for baseball grow, seeing how much my kids enjoy coming to the games, witnessing our kids interact with other kids at school, and just growing up in Korea is an unbelievable experience I get to see through a father’s eyes.”

Josh Lindblom family (Courtesy of Josh Lindblom)

This winter Lindblom’s future is an open question. Few players are potentially desired by teams from the MLB, NPB and KBO. At the time of this interview, he is cooking Korean barbecue on a stainless-steel grill over charcoal, but we don’t know where he will be this time next year.

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“As a competitor, you want to be challenged and you want to play against the best competition there is,” Lindblom said, “I’d love to stay in Korea, but if there’s a new opportunity for me to go back to the States or go to Japan, as a family, we’re going to do what’s best for us.”

(Top photo of Josh Lindblom with daughter Monroe: Sung Min Kim / The Athletic)

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