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Detroit Tigers free agency primer: Seung-hwan Oh is intriguing buy-low candidate

By Ben Rosener

MIAMI, FL - MAY 09: Seung-Hwan Oh #26 of the St. Louis Cardinals throws a pitch during the ninth inning against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park on May 9, 2017 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - MAY 09: Seung-Hwan Oh #26 of the St. Louis Cardinals throws a pitch during the ninth inning against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park on May 9, 2017 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images) /
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ST. LOUIS, MO – JULY 8: Seung-Hwan Oh #26 of the St. Louis Cardinals delivers a pitch against the New York Mets in the ninth inning at Busch Stadium on July 8, 2017 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)
ST. LOUIS, MO – JULY 8: Seung-Hwan Oh #26 of the St. Louis Cardinals delivers a pitch against the New York Mets in the ninth inning at Busch Stadium on July 8, 2017 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) /

National League Central stay

It was very much a tale of two seasons with the Cardinals for Seung-hwan Oh, who pitched to a 2.6 fWAR, a 1.92 ERA, a 2.13 FIP and a 2.88 xFIP over 79.2 innings in his debut season.

The closer also tacked on 11.64 punch outs per nine frames, a 40.0% ground ball percentage and 19 saves.

Things were a bit different in 2017, as the hurler saw his ground ball percentage plummet and his run-prevention stats balloon.

In 59.1 frames, the right-hander turned in a 28.7% ground ball percentage, a 4.10 ERA, a 4.44 FIP and a 5.04 xFIP.

Some of this is obviously due to a rise in BABIP.

While not over the moon, Oh’s .319 batting average on balls in play was significantly higher than his .270 stat in 2016.

What’s more, the Cardinals reliever didn’t miss as many bats, with 8.19 strikeouts per nine innings.

He also saw a spike in home runs, with nearly a home run more allowed per nine innings in 2017 (1.52) than in 2016 (0.56).

A move to spacious Comerica Park would certainly help in that regard.

This is all speculative mind you, but if the Cardinals do move on in the offseason, Oh would be an excellent rebound candidate in the Motor City.

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