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FuzzyRussianHat · 12-28-2025, 08:30 PM

Two were added into East Asia Baseball’s Hall of Fame in 2039 as first ballot nods. 3B Iemitsu Naiya led the way at 89.4%, joined by SP Se-Hak Lim at 80.0%. CL Tadami Nakano was the only other player with more than half of the vote, debuting at 50.9%. The best returner was SP Kwang-Il Chang with 47.6% for his fourth attempt.

The only player dropped after ten failed ballots was Kenji Yoshimura, who had a 14-year career with Kawasaki. He debuted at 38.4%, but was down to 5.8% by the end. Yoshimura was hurt by major injuries limiting his career, as his rate stats certainly fit the HOF marks. He had a 142-74 record, 2.31 ERA, 1904.1 innings, 1943 strikeouts, 144 ERA+, 79 FIP-, and 43.1 WAR.

Among EAB pitchers with 1000+ innings, Yoshimura’s ERA is 26^th. His .577 opponent’s OPS is 40^th, his 0.97 WHIP is 65^th, 6.88 H/9 is 47^th. Unfortunately, he didn’t have nearly enough innings and his strikeout and WAR totals were underwhelming relative to his peers. Yoshimura had an ERA title and was twice the runner-up for Pitcher of the Year. Had fate been kinder, he might have made it, but instead he had to settle for the Hall of Pretty Good.

Iemitsu Naiya – Third Base – Nagoya Nightowls – 89.4% First Ballot

Iemitsu Naiya was a 6’0’’, 200 pound right-handed third baseman from Tamana, Japan; a city of 63,000 in the Kumamoto Prefecture. Naiya was a rock solid contact hitter with reliable power, posting 35 home runs and 27 doubles per his 162 game average. He wasn’t one to put up gaudy league-leading numbers, but he was very steady and consistent.

Naiya was below average at drawing walks and middling for avoiding strikeouts. He was stronger facing left-handed pitching (.910 OPS, 174 wRC+) but was plenty reliable facing righties (.857 OPS, 159 wRC+). On the basepaths, he was painfully slow and sluggish. Naiya was a career third baseman and graded as a bit below average defensively, but he was perfectly serviceable.

His reliable play and ironman durability went a long way. Naiya never missed any time to an injury and started 140+ games each year from 2019-32. His years with fewer games were performance-based, not injury-based. Naiya was a team captain known for excellent leadership skills and fierce loyalty to his comrades. He became very popular for his consistency and reliability.

Naiya attended Waseda University in Tokyo and absolutely thrived, earning the #1 overall pick by Nagoya in the 2016 EAB Draft. He wasn’t an immediate success though, struggling to -0.4 WAR in his first two seasons with 78 games and 59 starts. Naiya earned the full-time job in 2019 and was a solid starter for the next 15 seasons. After the 2019 campaign, the Nightowls gave Naiya a five-year, $30,040,000 extension.

In 2021, he won his first Silver Slugger and had his first of eight seasons worth 7+ WAR. All of his full-time seasons starting brought in 4.7 WAR or better. His only time as a league-leader came with 114 RBI in 2022. Naiya won his second Slugger in 2024 and during that season, he committed to a massive seven-year, $224,700,000 extension with Nagoya. Naiya was determined to bring Nagoya up from the ashes and they were getting close.

The Nightowls had been abysmal from 2014-21, averaging only 64 wins per season. With Naiya, they had four straight 90+ win seasons from 2022-25, but they narrowly missed the playoffs each year. Nagoya finally broke through and ended a 13-year playoff drought in 2026. They lost a tiebreaker game for the Central Division to Kobe, but 98-65 earned them a wild card. The Nightowls fell 2-1 to Sapporo in the first round. Naiya was second in MVP voting, his first time as a finalist. 2026 had his career highs for homers (45), RBI (127) and OPS (.979) along with 9.1 WAR.

Naiya dipped a bit in 2027 and Nagoya missed the playoffs at 89-73. In 2028, he won his third Silver Slugger with an 8.8 WAR effort. The Nightowls took the division at 99-63, besting the Blaze by one game and Kyoto by three. Nagoya went on a playoff tear, including a shocking sweep of defending champ Niigata in the Japan League Championship Series. The Nightowls were defeated 4-2 in the East Asian Championship by Goyang.

In 17 playoff starts, Naiya earned JLCS MVP and overall was a stud with 25 hits, 12 runs, 4 doubles, 5 homers, 14 RBI, 1.122 OPS, 243 wRC+, and 1.5 WAR. Nagoya would finish 8-11 in the Baseball Grand Championship with Naiya posting a middling 114 wRC+ and 0.4 WAR. He had a lousy .152 average, but 8 of his 10 hits were at least homers.

It was his first look at the big stage, although he did also play some for Japan in the World Baseball Championship. Naiya was a starter from 2024-28, then had a backup role through 2033 with his leadership his main role. In 78 games, Naiya had 46 hits, 24 runs, 8 doubles, 14 homers, 32 RBI, .214/.278/.447 slash, .725 OPS, and 1.0 WAR.

Nagoya was a 94-68 wild card with a one-and-done in 2029. Then in 2030, the Nightowls took the JL’s top seed at 106-56. Naiya won his fourth Silver Slugger and was again second in MVP voting, posting 8.8 WAR, 40 homers, .965 OPS, and 198 wRC+. He was surprisingly lackluster in the playoffs with a .641 OPS and 83 wRC+. However, Nagoya knocked off Niigata 4-3 in the JLCS, then got revenge over Goyang 4-1 to claim the EAB title. The Nightowls were last in the BGC at 7-14 with Naiya having a .633 OPS.

Naiya had finally reached his ultimate goal with Nagoya; winning the EAB title. He surprised many though by declining his contract option that winter, becoming a free agent for the first time at age 36. For the Nightowls, Naiya played 1969 games with 2168 hits, 1025 runs, 341 doubles, 414 home runs, 1278 RBI, .302/.338/.529 slash, 163 wRC+, and 83.2 WAR. His #25 uniform would be later retired and Naiya remains popular for his role in Nagoya’s resurgence.

Kitakyushu signed Naiya to a three-year, $113 million deal. He maintained the excellent production of recent years with Silver Sluggers in 2031-32 and a third place in 2032’s MVP voting. Naiya had 9.2 WAR in 2032, his career high at age 37. The Kodiaks missed the playoffs in 2031 at 86-76 and were a division champ in 2032 at 95-67, although they went one-and-done.

Age finally caught up in 2033 and Naiya was reduced to only 108 games and 55 starts with .794 OPS, 145 wRC+, and 1.8 WAR. Overall with Kitakyushu, he had 419 games, 443 hits, 229 runs, 56 doubles, 100 home runs, 254 RBI, .310/.353/.568 slash, 178 wRC+, and 20.1 WAR. Naiya felt he still had something to offer, but big league clubs felt he was washed. He settled for the European Second League in 2034 with Skopje, playing 111 games with a .705 OPS, 111 wRC+, and 0.9 WAR. Naiya retired that winter shortly after his 40^th birthday.

In EAB, Naiya finished with 2388 games, 2611 hits, 1254 runs, 397 doubles, 34 triples, 514 home runs, 1532 RBI, 491 walks, 1560 strikeouts, 4618 total bases, .303/.341/.536 slash, 165 wRC+, and 103.3 WAR. Naiya ranks 80^th in hits, 77^th in total bases, 77^th in homers, 50^th in RBI, and 27^th in WAR among position players. The high WAR really boosted his Hall of Fame case with modern voters despite the lack of black ink or huge accumulations.

Naiya is notably 2^nd in WAR specifically at third base, behind only Hyun-Ook Jo’s 111.68. There were other 3Bs with sexier numbers, but Naiya certainly deserves a mention with the best-of-the-best at the spot for East Asia Baseball. His role in Nagoya’s two Japanese titles and one EAB title certainly solidified the case with most doubters. At 89.4%, Naiya was a first ballot addition into the HOF for 2039.

Se-Hak “Socks” Lim – Starting Pitcher – Busan Blue Jays – 80.0% First Ballot

Se-Hak Lim was a 6’6’’, 200 pound left-handed pitcher from Busan, South Korea. Nicknamed “Socks,” Lim had consistently good-to-great stuff and movement along with above average control. His velocity peaked in the 95-97 mph range with an arsenal of forkball, changeup, cutter, and slider. Lim’s forkball was considered his best option and he was quite skilled at coaxing easy outs.

Lim’s stamina was above average relative to other EAB aces. While he avoided the usual big injuries that ruin pitchers, Lim had bad luck with some other injuries that limited him in a few seasons. He had an excellent pickoff move and was elite at holding runners, although his defense otherwise was just average. Lim was one of the more cerebral pitchers in the clubhouse, but he wasn’t one to look at for leadership.

After a dominant collegiate run in Seoul for Konkuk University, many had Lim as the top prospect for the 2019 EAB Draft. Bucheon grabbed him with the #1 pick and used him in a split starter/relief role as a rookie with mixed results. Lim was a regular starter after that, although he hadn’t settled into ace production until his third season.

Lim helped Bucheon turn things around after 100+ loss seasons from 2019-21. They won their division in 2023 at 92-70, but lost in the first round. The Bolts fell to 75-87 in 2024 despite Lim placing third in Pitcher of the Year voting. Bucheon rebounded with another North Division title in 2025 at 92-70. The Bolts got to the Korea League Championship Series, but were denied 4-2 by Daegu. In the playoff run, Lim was excellent with a 0.67 ERA in 26.2 innings with 27 strikeouts and 1.1 WAR.

However, that marked the end of his time with Bucheon. The Bolts were one of the poorer franchises and Lim wanted to cash in big. He left for free agency after the 2025 season heading towards age 28. With Bucheon, Lim had a 77-72 record, 3.19 ERA, 1346.2 innings, 1291 strikeouts, 119 ERA+, 81 FIP-, and 28.6 WAR. After he departed, the Bolts fell back to the bottom-tier, which left some Bucheon fans bitter towards Lim.

Lim got the big payday and returned to his home city Busan at $185 million over seven years. The Blue Jays had won the KL title in 2023-24 and were on a six-year playoff streak. Lim helped them continue what was ultimately a 17-year postseason streak, the longest in EAB history. He had also emerged as a regular in the World Baseball Championship for South Korea. From 2022-30, Lim had a 2.42 ERA over 126.1 innings, 9-1 record, 168 strikeouts, and 3.4 WAR.

In his Busan debut, Lim won the ERA title at 1.93 and was second in Pitcher of the Year voting despite missing part of the spring to a sprained ankle. The Blue Jays had an all-time great regular season at 119-43, but were shocked 3-1 by Gwangju in the divisional series. Lim struggled with six runs allowed over his six playoff innings. His playoff stats would be more average in the next two seasons, which saw division titles at 97-65 and 100-62. Busan lost in the 2027 divisional series, then fell in the 2028 KLCS to Goyang despite being the top seed.

Lim’s production was great though, taking second in 2027’s POTY voting. He had league bests in quality starts (24), complete games (24), and shutouts (5) along with his career bests for Ks (309) and WAR (9.3). In 2029, Lim won his second ERA title with a career-best 1.71, but he just barely had the innings to qualify. Bone chips in his elbow knocked him out most of the summer.

He was back by the playoffs and stepped up with a 2.02 ERA over 35.2 innings, 4-1 record, 34 strikeouts, and 1.1 WAR in the 2029 playoff run. Busan had the top seed at 105-57 and beat Suwon to win the Korea League crown 4-2. However, the Blue Jays were defeated 4-1 by Niigata in the East Asian Championship. Busan finished 7-14 in the Baseball Grand Championship with Lim pitching great with a 1.97 ERA over 45.2 innings with 60 Ks and 2.0 WAR.

In spring training 2030, Lim suffered a fractured coracoid bone in his shoulder. He suffered a setback in May and the injury kept him out the entire year. His control fell off significantly after this injury. Lim returned and was still a solid starter in 2031 and a decent one in 2032. Busan had 101 and 106 wins in 2030-31, but lost both years in the divisional round.

The Blue Jays were 103-59 in 2032 and knocked off Suwon in the KLCS 4-1. Busan dropped Chiba 4-1 to give Lim an EAB ring. He made two starts in the playoff run, allowing three runs in 12 innings with 15 strikeouts. In the BGC, he saw four relief innings with one run allowed as Busan finished 10-11. Overall, Lim’s playoff stats with the Blue Jays saw a 3.38 ERA in 82.2 innings, 6-4 record, 83 strikeouts, 111 ERA+, 69 FIP- and 2.4 WAR.

The 2032 title marked the end of the Busan contract and ultimately his time playing in Korea. With his hometown, Lim had a 104-41 record, 2.51 ERA, 1286 innings, 1334 strikeouts, 267 walks, 149 ERA+, 76 FIP-, and 32.7 WAR. He wasn’t quite a franchise icon, but he was an important part of the continued playoff streak with two KL pennants and one EAB title.

Lim opened up an international search with most franchises thinking the 35-year old lefty was on the downswing. He ended up in the European Baseball Federation with Seville in 2033 on a one-year, $5,700,000 deal. An elbow strain among other injuries limited him, but Lim was passable with a 3.20 ERA in 151.2 innings, 102 Ks, and 11-8 record. However, his 125 FIP- and zero WAR suggested he was worse than the ERA would suggest.

He stayed in Europe with Cluj-Napoca in 2034, but they only used him for 17.1 innings despite being healthy. Lim went to Berlin in 2035 and tossed 113.1 innings with a 3.34 ERA, 85 strikeouts, and 1.9 WAR. The Barons run was good enough to earn some MLB attention and Lim signed with Montreal in 2036. He was long relief mostly with a 4.79 ERA in 71.1 innings with 0.1 WAR.

Lim was back in Europe for 2037 with Turin, but he only saw 19 innings with the Tanks. He still wanted to pitch and returned to South Korea for Gwangju in 2038. However, Lim remained on the reserve roster all year and never pitched for the Grays. He retired that winter at age 40. For his combined pro career, Lim had a 199-134 record, 2.97 ERA, 3005.1 innings, 2905 strikeouts, 758 walks, 127 ERA+, 82 FIP-, and 63.4 WAR.

In East Asia Baseball, Lim had a 181-113 record, 2.85 ERA, 2632.2 innings, 2625 strikeouts, 630 walks, 129 complete games, 25 shutouts, 132 ERA+, 79 FIP-, and 61.3 WAR. He didn’t have the tenure to rank in the top 100 for WAR or any counting stats apart from being 56^th in complete games and 64^th in shutouts. The rate stats like ERA+ and FIP- were certainly in the Hall of Fame range, but Lim wasn’t a top 100 guy on those lists either.

Still, having two ERA titles (even with lower innings those years) and being a multi-time POTY finalist helped quite a bit. Lim also had solid playoff stats during a historic run for Busan, which boosted his profile considerably. Even without the big final totals, voters gave Lim the first ballot honor with 80.0% as part of a two-man 2039 class in EAB.

12-28-2025, 08:30 PM	#2648
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 3,530	2039 EAB Hall of Fame Two were added into East Asia Baseball’s Hall of Fame in 2039 as first ballot nods. 3B Iemitsu Naiya led the way at 89.4%, joined by SP Se-Hak Lim at 80.0%. CL Tadami Nakano was the only other player with more than half of the vote, debuting at 50.9%. The best returner was SP Kwang-Il Chang with 47.6% for his fourth attempt. The only player dropped after ten failed ballots was Kenji Yoshimura, who had a 14-year career with Kawasaki. He debuted at 38.4%, but was down to 5.8% by the end. Yoshimura was hurt by major injuries limiting his career, as his rate stats certainly fit the HOF marks. He had a 142-74 record, 2.31 ERA, 1904.1 innings, 1943 strikeouts, 144 ERA+, 79 FIP-, and 43.1 WAR. Among EAB pitchers with 1000+ innings, Yoshimura’s ERA is 26^th. His .577 opponent’s OPS is 40^th, his 0.97 WHIP is 65^th, 6.88 H/9 is 47^th. Unfortunately, he didn’t have nearly enough innings and his strikeout and WAR totals were underwhelming relative to his peers. Yoshimura had an ERA title and was twice the runner-up for Pitcher of the Year. Had fate been kinder, he might have made it, but instead he had to settle for the Hall of Pretty Good. Iemitsu Naiya – Third Base – Nagoya Nightowls – 89.4% First Ballot Iemitsu Naiya was a 6’0’’, 200 pound right-handed third baseman from Tamana, Japan; a city of 63,000 in the Kumamoto Prefecture. Naiya was a rock solid contact hitter with reliable power, posting 35 home runs and 27 doubles per his 162 game average. He wasn’t one to put up gaudy league-leading numbers, but he was very steady and consistent. Naiya was below average at drawing walks and middling for avoiding strikeouts. He was stronger facing left-handed pitching (.910 OPS, 174 wRC+) but was plenty reliable facing righties (.857 OPS, 159 wRC+). On the basepaths, he was painfully slow and sluggish. Naiya was a career third baseman and graded as a bit below average defensively, but he was perfectly serviceable. His reliable play and ironman durability went a long way. Naiya never missed any time to an injury and started 140+ games each year from 2019-32. His years with fewer games were performance-based, not injury-based. Naiya was a team captain known for excellent leadership skills and fierce loyalty to his comrades. He became very popular for his consistency and reliability. Naiya attended Waseda University in Tokyo and absolutely thrived, earning the #1 overall pick by Nagoya in the 2016 EAB Draft. He wasn’t an immediate success though, struggling to -0.4 WAR in his first two seasons with 78 games and 59 starts. Naiya earned the full-time job in 2019 and was a solid starter for the next 15 seasons. After the 2019 campaign, the Nightowls gave Naiya a five-year, $30,040,000 extension. In 2021, he won his first Silver Slugger and had his first of eight seasons worth 7+ WAR. All of his full-time seasons starting brought in 4.7 WAR or better. His only time as a league-leader came with 114 RBI in 2022. Naiya won his second Slugger in 2024 and during that season, he committed to a massive seven-year, $224,700,000 extension with Nagoya. Naiya was determined to bring Nagoya up from the ashes and they were getting close. The Nightowls had been abysmal from 2014-21, averaging only 64 wins per season. With Naiya, they had four straight 90+ win seasons from 2022-25, but they narrowly missed the playoffs each year. Nagoya finally broke through and ended a 13-year playoff drought in 2026. They lost a tiebreaker game for the Central Division to Kobe, but 98-65 earned them a wild card. The Nightowls fell 2-1 to Sapporo in the first round. Naiya was second in MVP voting, his first time as a finalist. 2026 had his career highs for homers (45), RBI (127) and OPS (.979) along with 9.1 WAR. Naiya dipped a bit in 2027 and Nagoya missed the playoffs at 89-73. In 2028, he won his third Silver Slugger with an 8.8 WAR effort. The Nightowls took the division at 99-63, besting the Blaze by one game and Kyoto by three. Nagoya went on a playoff tear, including a shocking sweep of defending champ Niigata in the Japan League Championship Series. The Nightowls were defeated 4-2 in the East Asian Championship by Goyang. In 17 playoff starts, Naiya earned JLCS MVP and overall was a stud with 25 hits, 12 runs, 4 doubles, 5 homers, 14 RBI, 1.122 OPS, 243 wRC+, and 1.5 WAR. Nagoya would finish 8-11 in the Baseball Grand Championship with Naiya posting a middling 114 wRC+ and 0.4 WAR. He had a lousy .152 average, but 8 of his 10 hits were at least homers. It was his first look at the big stage, although he did also play some for Japan in the World Baseball Championship. Naiya was a starter from 2024-28, then had a backup role through 2033 with his leadership his main role. In 78 games, Naiya had 46 hits, 24 runs, 8 doubles, 14 homers, 32 RBI, .214/.278/.447 slash, .725 OPS, and 1.0 WAR. Nagoya was a 94-68 wild card with a one-and-done in 2029. Then in 2030, the Nightowls took the JL’s top seed at 106-56. Naiya won his fourth Silver Slugger and was again second in MVP voting, posting 8.8 WAR, 40 homers, .965 OPS, and 198 wRC+. He was surprisingly lackluster in the playoffs with a .641 OPS and 83 wRC+. However, Nagoya knocked off Niigata 4-3 in the JLCS, then got revenge over Goyang 4-1 to claim the EAB title. The Nightowls were last in the BGC at 7-14 with Naiya having a .633 OPS. Naiya had finally reached his ultimate goal with Nagoya; winning the EAB title. He surprised many though by declining his contract option that winter, becoming a free agent for the first time at age 36. For the Nightowls, Naiya played 1969 games with 2168 hits, 1025 runs, 341 doubles, 414 home runs, 1278 RBI, .302/.338/.529 slash, 163 wRC+, and 83.2 WAR. His #25 uniform would be later retired and Naiya remains popular for his role in Nagoya’s resurgence. Kitakyushu signed Naiya to a three-year, $113 million deal. He maintained the excellent production of recent years with Silver Sluggers in 2031-32 and a third place in 2032’s MVP voting. Naiya had 9.2 WAR in 2032, his career high at age 37. The Kodiaks missed the playoffs in 2031 at 86-76 and were a division champ in 2032 at 95-67, although they went one-and-done. Age finally caught up in 2033 and Naiya was reduced to only 108 games and 55 starts with .794 OPS, 145 wRC+, and 1.8 WAR. Overall with Kitakyushu, he had 419 games, 443 hits, 229 runs, 56 doubles, 100 home runs, 254 RBI, .310/.353/.568 slash, 178 wRC+, and 20.1 WAR. Naiya felt he still had something to offer, but big league clubs felt he was washed. He settled for the European Second League in 2034 with Skopje, playing 111 games with a .705 OPS, 111 wRC+, and 0.9 WAR. Naiya retired that winter shortly after his 40^th birthday. In EAB, Naiya finished with 2388 games, 2611 hits, 1254 runs, 397 doubles, 34 triples, 514 home runs, 1532 RBI, 491 walks, 1560 strikeouts, 4618 total bases, .303/.341/.536 slash, 165 wRC+, and 103.3 WAR. Naiya ranks 80^th in hits, 77^th in total bases, 77^th in homers, 50^th in RBI, and 27^th in WAR among position players. The high WAR really boosted his Hall of Fame case with modern voters despite the lack of black ink or huge accumulations. Naiya is notably 2^nd in WAR specifically at third base, behind only Hyun-Ook Jo’s 111.68. There were other 3Bs with sexier numbers, but Naiya certainly deserves a mention with the best-of-the-best at the spot for East Asia Baseball. His role in Nagoya’s two Japanese titles and one EAB title certainly solidified the case with most doubters. At 89.4%, Naiya was a first ballot addition into the HOF for 2039. Se-Hak “Socks” Lim – Starting Pitcher – Busan Blue Jays – 80.0% First Ballot Se-Hak Lim was a 6’6’’, 200 pound left-handed pitcher from Busan, South Korea. Nicknamed “Socks,” Lim had consistently good-to-great stuff and movement along with above average control. His velocity peaked in the 95-97 mph range with an arsenal of forkball, changeup, cutter, and slider. Lim’s forkball was considered his best option and he was quite skilled at coaxing easy outs. Lim’s stamina was above average relative to other EAB aces. While he avoided the usual big injuries that ruin pitchers, Lim had bad luck with some other injuries that limited him in a few seasons. He had an excellent pickoff move and was elite at holding runners, although his defense otherwise was just average. Lim was one of the more cerebral pitchers in the clubhouse, but he wasn’t one to look at for leadership. After a dominant collegiate run in Seoul for Konkuk University, many had Lim as the top prospect for the 2019 EAB Draft. Bucheon grabbed him with the #1 pick and used him in a split starter/relief role as a rookie with mixed results. Lim was a regular starter after that, although he hadn’t settled into ace production until his third season. Lim helped Bucheon turn things around after 100+ loss seasons from 2019-21. They won their division in 2023 at 92-70, but lost in the first round. The Bolts fell to 75-87 in 2024 despite Lim placing third in Pitcher of the Year voting. Bucheon rebounded with another North Division title in 2025 at 92-70. The Bolts got to the Korea League Championship Series, but were denied 4-2 by Daegu. In the playoff run, Lim was excellent with a 0.67 ERA in 26.2 innings with 27 strikeouts and 1.1 WAR. However, that marked the end of his time with Bucheon. The Bolts were one of the poorer franchises and Lim wanted to cash in big. He left for free agency after the 2025 season heading towards age 28. With Bucheon, Lim had a 77-72 record, 3.19 ERA, 1346.2 innings, 1291 strikeouts, 119 ERA+, 81 FIP-, and 28.6 WAR. After he departed, the Bolts fell back to the bottom-tier, which left some Bucheon fans bitter towards Lim. Lim got the big payday and returned to his home city Busan at $185 million over seven years. The Blue Jays had won the KL title in 2023-24 and were on a six-year playoff streak. Lim helped them continue what was ultimately a 17-year postseason streak, the longest in EAB history. He had also emerged as a regular in the World Baseball Championship for South Korea. From 2022-30, Lim had a 2.42 ERA over 126.1 innings, 9-1 record, 168 strikeouts, and 3.4 WAR. In his Busan debut, Lim won the ERA title at 1.93 and was second in Pitcher of the Year voting despite missing part of the spring to a sprained ankle. The Blue Jays had an all-time great regular season at 119-43, but were shocked 3-1 by Gwangju in the divisional series. Lim struggled with six runs allowed over his six playoff innings. His playoff stats would be more average in the next two seasons, which saw division titles at 97-65 and 100-62. Busan lost in the 2027 divisional series, then fell in the 2028 KLCS to Goyang despite being the top seed. Lim’s production was great though, taking second in 2027’s POTY voting. He had league bests in quality starts (24), complete games (24), and shutouts (5) along with his career bests for Ks (309) and WAR (9.3). In 2029, Lim won his second ERA title with a career-best 1.71, but he just barely had the innings to qualify. Bone chips in his elbow knocked him out most of the summer. He was back by the playoffs and stepped up with a 2.02 ERA over 35.2 innings, 4-1 record, 34 strikeouts, and 1.1 WAR in the 2029 playoff run. Busan had the top seed at 105-57 and beat Suwon to win the Korea League crown 4-2. However, the Blue Jays were defeated 4-1 by Niigata in the East Asian Championship. Busan finished 7-14 in the Baseball Grand Championship with Lim pitching great with a 1.97 ERA over 45.2 innings with 60 Ks and 2.0 WAR. In spring training 2030, Lim suffered a fractured coracoid bone in his shoulder. He suffered a setback in May and the injury kept him out the entire year. His control fell off significantly after this injury. Lim returned and was still a solid starter in 2031 and a decent one in 2032. Busan had 101 and 106 wins in 2030-31, but lost both years in the divisional round. The Blue Jays were 103-59 in 2032 and knocked off Suwon in the KLCS 4-1. Busan dropped Chiba 4-1 to give Lim an EAB ring. He made two starts in the playoff run, allowing three runs in 12 innings with 15 strikeouts. In the BGC, he saw four relief innings with one run allowed as Busan finished 10-11. Overall, Lim’s playoff stats with the Blue Jays saw a 3.38 ERA in 82.2 innings, 6-4 record, 83 strikeouts, 111 ERA+, 69 FIP- and 2.4 WAR. The 2032 title marked the end of the Busan contract and ultimately his time playing in Korea. With his hometown, Lim had a 104-41 record, 2.51 ERA, 1286 innings, 1334 strikeouts, 267 walks, 149 ERA+, 76 FIP-, and 32.7 WAR. He wasn’t quite a franchise icon, but he was an important part of the continued playoff streak with two KL pennants and one EAB title. Lim opened up an international search with most franchises thinking the 35-year old lefty was on the downswing. He ended up in the European Baseball Federation with Seville in 2033 on a one-year, $5,700,000 deal. An elbow strain among other injuries limited him, but Lim was passable with a 3.20 ERA in 151.2 innings, 102 Ks, and 11-8 record. However, his 125 FIP- and zero WAR suggested he was worse than the ERA would suggest. He stayed in Europe with Cluj-Napoca in 2034, but they only used him for 17.1 innings despite being healthy. Lim went to Berlin in 2035 and tossed 113.1 innings with a 3.34 ERA, 85 strikeouts, and 1.9 WAR. The Barons run was good enough to earn some MLB attention and Lim signed with Montreal in 2036. He was long relief mostly with a 4.79 ERA in 71.1 innings with 0.1 WAR. Lim was back in Europe for 2037 with Turin, but he only saw 19 innings with the Tanks. He still wanted to pitch and returned to South Korea for Gwangju in 2038. However, Lim remained on the reserve roster all year and never pitched for the Grays. He retired that winter at age 40. For his combined pro career, Lim had a 199-134 record, 2.97 ERA, 3005.1 innings, 2905 strikeouts, 758 walks, 127 ERA+, 82 FIP-, and 63.4 WAR. In East Asia Baseball, Lim had a 181-113 record, 2.85 ERA, 2632.2 innings, 2625 strikeouts, 630 walks, 129 complete games, 25 shutouts, 132 ERA+, 79 FIP-, and 61.3 WAR. He didn’t have the tenure to rank in the top 100 for WAR or any counting stats apart from being 56^th in complete games and 64^th in shutouts. The rate stats like ERA+ and FIP- were certainly in the Hall of Fame range, but Lim wasn’t a top 100 guy on those lists either. Still, having two ERA titles (even with lower innings those years) and being a multi-time POTY finalist helped quite a bit. Lim also had solid playoff stats during a historic run for Busan, which boosted his profile considerably. Even without the big final totals, voters gave Lim the first ballot honor with 80.0% as part of a two-man 2039 class in EAB. __________________ Baseball: The World's Game fictional world reports The Level Playing Field: Alternate MLB History From 1884-Onward Continental Baseball Federation world reports (8-tier promotion/relegation sim and college feeder)