It’s been four long years since Kyle Hart last stepped on the mound in an MLB game, but he’s aiming for a triumphant return in 2025.

Hart played in the Boston Red Sox farm system starting in 2016, leading to his big league debut in 2020. The left-hander went 0-1 with a 15.55 ERA, 3.091 WHIP and a -0.9 WAR in 11.0 innings during the COVID-19 pandemic. shortened season, however, while battling Lyme disease.

After posting a 3.13 ERA over his first four seasons in the minors, Hart had a 4.67 ERA between 2021 and 2022. The Seattle Mariners and Philadelphia Phillies each gave Hart a chance in 2023, only for the southpaw to go 4-6 with a 4.53 ERA. ERA in Triple-A.

Hart chose to go overseas last winter, signing with the NC Dinos of the Korean Baseball Organization. As it turned out, the move helped Hart revive his career.

In 26 starts last season, Hart went 13-3 with a 2.69 ERA, 1.032 WHIP and 10.4 strikeouts per nine innings. The soon-to-be 32-year-old also managed to break the KBO single-season strikeout record by accumulating 182 strikeouts.

Now that his one-year, $900,000 contract in Korea has expired, Hart has a chance to return to the United States. The southpaw recently spoke with Chris Cotillo of MassLive.comconfirming that he is actively trying to return to MLB.

FanGraphs Hart ranked as the 48th-ranked free agent on the market entering the offseason, with writer Ben Clemens predicting he will earn a three-year, $24 million contract.

Hart wouldn’t be the first pitcher to flop in America, dominate the KBO, then return to the MLB as a dark horse free agent. Erick Fedde did it last winter, erasing his struggles with the Washington Nationals with a one-year hiatus in Korea. The Chicago White Sox offered a two-year, $15 million contract offer, and Fedde pounced on it.

Fedde, who was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals at the deadline, finished 2024 with a 9-9 record, 3.30 ERA, 1.162 WHIP and 5.6 WAR in 31 starts.

If Hart can put up that kind of production after regaining his confidence in Korea, he’ll generate some serious interest in free agency.

The 6-foot-5 southpaw possesses a solid slider, respectable changeup and a low-velocity fastball that he relied on heavily with the Dinos.

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