Million Dollar Arm: Looking back on the Boston Red Sox presence in Asia

Two of Duquette and Poitevint’s signings did have legitimate Major League careers. Japanese pitcher Tomo Ohka logged 51 wins and a 4.26 ERA over ten seasons in Boston, Montreal, Washington, Milwaukee, Toronto and Cleveland. His best year was probably 2002, when he went 13-8 with a 3.18 ERA and 1.24 WHIP, striking out a career-high 118 for the Expos.

Ohka was a useful rotation piece for the banged-up 2000 Red Sox, posting a 3.12 ERA in 12 late-season starts. After scuffling in 2001, he was shipped to Montreal in the Ugueth Urbina deal, securing the Red Sox closer position for the next two seasons.

Sun-Woo Kim was another Red Sox import who pitched better for Montreal than he did for Boston. Kim received a $1 million signing bonus from Duquette in ’98 and reached the big club by 2001, posting a 5.83 ERA in 20 appearances, including two starts.

The Expos came calling for Kim and the aforementioned Seung Song in the Cliff Floyd deal at the 2002 trading deadline. While Floyd was unable to carry the Red Sox to the playoffs in ’02, Kim made a total of 51 appearances (23 starts) in parts of three seasons for Montreal before they became the Washington Nationals. Kim also pitched for the Reds and Rockies, finishing his career with an even 13-13 record and 5.31 ERA.