Phillies: David Buchanan talks wife’s pregnancy, KBO fans

Former Phillies pitcher David Buchanan talks wife’s pregnancy, KBO fans

For Philadelphia Phillies right-handed starting pitcher David Buchanan may have only appeared in 35 games during his Major League Baseball career in 2014 and 2015, but he since found his side overseas in Japan, and currently, Korea, as a 2020 member of the Korean Baseball Organization’s Samsung Lions.

Buchanan joined ESPN’s live KBO game broadcast Wednesday morning and discussed many aspects of the game he loves. However, the right-hander got quite emotional when talking about his wife, Ashley. As ESPN’s Buster Olney notes, Buchanan fought off tears when he revealed his wife is pregnant and will return home to the U.S. for health precautions with their son, Bradley.

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“They just found out she’s pregnant and she’s a high-risk pregnancy,” ESPN announcer Karl Ravech said. “So, she’s got to fly back home. And as a result, he’s going to be without Bradley and Ashley for the remainder of this season.”

Buchanan has pitched well in his first season in Korea; in eight starts, he is 5-2 with a 3.62 ERA and 34-13 strikeout-to-walk ratio spanning 49 2/3 innings. As a Phillie, the Atlanta, Georgia, native posted a 5.01 ERA and 115-61 strikeout-to-walk ratio across 192 1/3 innings.

https://twitter.com/PitchingNinja/status/1274015973402718208

Buchanan a KBO fan-favorite

Buchanan has now pitched overseas for four seasons. He did not waste any time getting accustomed to his new fanbase.

“I knew I was across the world and I thought, ‘Why would you not want to be that way, to make yourself at home and be involved with these fans?'” he says. “They’re so personable and so passionate about the game, about you. Results don’t even matter. They just want to be a part of you, because you’re a baseball player. They think you’re awesome. It’s very humbling when you interact with people like that.”

Buchanan says that as soon as it was announced he was leaving Japan to sign the Samsung Lions in Korea this season, his wife started getting Instagram messages from fans welcoming them, saying things such as, “We can’t wait to meet you. If you need anything, let us know.”

Buchanan says: “[They were] people that we have no idea who they are but offering generosity to help us out any way they can before I ever said a word to the press or anything. With that kind of culture, I love to involve myself in that, just the camaraderie and the happiness that they show me. … They love this game so much and it’s just a fun atmosphere to be in.”

“That’s definitely a part of what I want to be as far as a fan-favorite, because they give us so much time and energy and affection that I feel like it wouldn’t be right not to give them the same.”

Buchanan reacts to MLB/MLBPA negotiations

In addition to discussing his wife’s pregnancy and relationship with the fans overseas, Buchanan touched on the current event regarding the MLB and the MLBPA.

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Buchanan said he has to be careful in what he comments, but that he thinks it is “sad” the sides “can’t figure things out” and that it is “just a very unfortunate environment.”

Buchanan continued:

"“I’m in a bible study with other players around the league here in Japan and we talk about it every week. It’s just unfortunate that it’s such a business, there has to be the due diligence of that part of it which I understand, but it just stinks that the game and just playing for the fans and the people can’t be put first just because it is such a business. It’s just really hard to speak on it because there’s so many angles of different guys.You have guys who were in the middle of contracts, from the downside of a contract, looking for a contract, trying to make their debut who just got drafted, try to play in the minor leagues.”"

Buchanan has made a name of himself overseas. And, soon, just like Phillies star outfielder Bryce Harper, he will soon become a father of two.