Eric Spenser Jokisch (/ˈkɪʃ/ JOH-kish;[1] born July 29, 1989) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the NC Dinos of the KBO League. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago Cubs and in the KBO League for the Kiwoom Heroes.

Eric Jokisch
Jokisch at Osan Air Base in 2019
NC Dinos – No. 20
Pitcher
Born: (1989-07-29) July 29, 1989 (age 35)
Springfield, Illinois, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Left
Professional debut
MLB: September 7, 2014, for the Chicago Cubs
KBO: March 24, 2019, for the Kiwoom Heroes
MLB statistics
(through 2014 season)
Win–loss record0–0
Earned run average1.88
Strikeouts10
KBO statistics
(through 2024 season)
Win–loss record59-40
Earned run average2.99
Strikeouts624
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams
Career highlights and awards
  • KBO Wins leader (2021)
  • KBO ERA leader (2020)

Career

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Amateur

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Jokisch was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 39th round of the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft out of Virginia High School in Virginia, Illinois, but did not sign and played college baseball at Northwestern University. In 2009, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[2][3]

Chicago Cubs

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He was selected by the Chicago Cubs in the 11th round of the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft and signed.[4] In 2013, while pitching for the Tennessee Smokies, he pitched a no-hitter.[5]

Jokisch was called up to the majors for the first time on September 2, 2014.[6]

Miami Marlins

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On April 13, 2016, Jokisch was claimed off waivers by the Miami Marlins.[6] After one start for the Double–A Jacksonville Suns, he made 18 appearances for the Triple–A New Orleans Zephyrs, posting a 2.64 ERA with 19 strikeouts in 30+23 innings pitched. Jokisch was designated for assignment on July 6 following the promotion of Don Kelly.[7] He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Double–A Jacksonville on July 8.[8]

Texas Rangers

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On July 8, 2016, the Marlins traded Jokisch to the Texas Rangers in exchange for Pedro Ciriaco. As he had been outrighted the same day, Jokisch did not occupy a spot on Texas' 40-man roster.[9] In 7 games (4 starts) for the Triple–A Round Rock Express, he logged a 4.13 ERA with 15 strikeouts over 24 innings of work. Jokisch elected free agency following the season on November 7.[10]

Arizona Diamondbacks

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On February 26, 2017, Jokisch signed a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks organization.[11] Jokisch spent the 2017 season with the Triple–A Reno Aces, also making 1 start for the Double–A Jackson Generals. In 28 games (21 starts) for Reno, he logged an 8–8 record and 4.21 ERA with 91 strikeouts in 134+23 innings pitched. He elected free agency following the season on November 6, 2017.[12]

Oakland Athletics

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On December 7, 2017, Jokisch signed a minor league contract with the Oakland Athletics organization.[13] He spent the 2018 season with the Triple–A Nashville Sounds, making 26 appearances (23 starts) and registering a 5–11 record and 4.06 ERA with 121 strikeouts in 148+23 innings of work.[14] Jokisch elected free agency after the season on November 2, 2018.[15][6]

Kiwoom Heroes

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On November 23, 2018, Jokisch signed a one-year, $500,000 contract with the Kiwoom Heroes of the KBO League.[16] He produced a 13–9 record with a 3.13 ERA over 181.1 innings in 2019. Jokisch re-signed with Kiwoom for the 2020 season on a one-year contract worth $700,000.[17] In 2020 Jokisch led the team with 159.2 innings with an ERA of 2.14 ,winning the league’s ERA title. He re-signed with the Heroes on a one year $900k deal for the 2021 season on December 2, 2020.[18] Jokisch tied for the league lead in wins (16), while ranking second in innings pitched (181+13) and fourth in ERA (2.93).

On December 30, 2021, he re-signed with the Heroes on a one-year deal worth up to $1.3 million.[19] Jokisch started 30 games for Kiwoom in 2022, registering a 10–8 record and 2.57 ERA with 154 strikeouts across a career–high 185+23 innings pitched. On December 11, 2022, Jokisch re-signed a one-year contract worth $1.5 million. He would make 12 starts for the team in 2023, logging a 5–3 record and 4.39 ERA with 51 strikeouts in 65+23 innings of work. In early June, Jokisch suffered a tear in his left adductor muscle and was ruled out for six weeks. Rather than wait for Jokisch to get healthy, the Heroes released him on June 16 and signed Ian McKinney.[20]

NC Dinos

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On July 31, 2024, Jokisch signed with the NC Dinos of the KBO League.[21]

References

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  1. ^ "Eric Jockisch goes yard for the I-Cubs". YouTube. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  2. ^ "Major League Baseball Players From the Cape Cod League" (PDF). capecodbaseball.org. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
  3. ^ "2009 Harwich Mariners". thebaseballcube.com. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  4. ^ "Jokisch Selected by Chicago Cubs in 11th Round of MLB Draft". Archived from the original on September 3, 2014. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
  5. ^ Gonzales, Mark. "Cubs minor leaguer Jokisch tosses no-hitter for Tennessee".
  6. ^ a b c "KBO's Eric Jokisch Considering MLB Return". mlbtraderumors.com. November 6, 2020. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
  7. ^ "Marlins' Eric Jokisch: Designated for assignment". cbssports.com. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  8. ^ "Marlins' Eric Jokisch: Outrighted to Jacksonville". cbssports.com. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  9. ^ "Rangers' Eric Jokisch: Gets traded to Texas". cbssports.com. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  10. ^ "Minor League Free Agents 2016". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
  11. ^ "Diamondbacks' Eric Jokisch: Signs minor-league deal with Diamondbacks". cbssports.com. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  12. ^ "Minor League Free Agents 2017". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  13. ^ "Athletics' Eric Jokisch: Inks farm deal with A's". CBS Sports. December 7, 2017. Retrieved December 7, 2017.
  14. ^ "Former Oakland A's minor league Eric Jokisch may have a chance to return to the majors after a two year stint in the Korean Baseball Organization". whitecleatbeat.com. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  15. ^ "Minor League Free Agents 2018". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
  16. ^ "Nexen Heroes sign new foreign pitcher, retain two foreign players". English.yonhapnews.co.kr. November 23, 2018. Retrieved November 23, 2018.
  17. ^ "Kiwoom Heroes re-sign left-hander Eric Jokisch". Yonhap News Agency. November 22, 2019. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
  18. ^ "KBO's Kiwoom Heroes Re-Sign Eric Jokisch; Part Ways With Addison Russell, Jake Brigham". mlbtraderumors.com. December 2, 2020. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
  19. ^ "Kiwoom Heroes bring back starter Jokisch for 4th season in KBO". Yonhap News Agency. December 30, 2021. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
  20. ^ "Kiwoom Heroes release injured pitcher Jokisch". m-en.yna.co.kr. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  21. ^ "KBO's NC Dinos Sign Eric Jokisch, Release Daniel Castano". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
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