Quick Facts
Biography
Cha Seung Baek (, Korean: 백차승 [pɛ̝k.tɕʰa.sɯŋ]; born May 29, 1980) is a former Korean American professional baseball pitcher.
Baek graduated from Busan High School, Busan, South Korea in 1998. He was signed by the Seattle Mariners as an amateur free agent on September 25, 1998.
Professional career
Seattle Mariners
He made his professional with the Peoria Mariners in 1999. In his first start he struck out 8 batters over 5.0 innings on July 18.
Was 4-1 with a 3.86 ERA in 9 home starts with Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in 2000. He was placed on the disabled list on June 2 with a right arm flexor strain. Baek went 5-3 after coming off the DL June 15. At the end of the season he was listed among Baseball America's top-20 Midwest League prospects at the end of the season.
Spent most season on the San Bernardino Stampede's disabled list. He made 2 starts before being placed on the DL from April 13 to May 14 with soreness in his right elbow. He pitched in 3 games, 2 starts in May before suffering a strained right elbow in his final start of the season in May. Placed on the DL again in June through the end of the 2001 season.
Baek missed the entire 2002 season after undergoing right elbow surgery. He participated in the Mariners Fall Instructional League.
He split the 2003 season between the Inland Empire 66ers and the San Antonio Missions. He started the season with Inland Empire appearing in 13 games, 10 starts. From April 19 to the 24 he pitched 10 scoreless innings in two starts. Baek won three consecutive starts from April 19 to the 30. Placed on the disabled list from May 8 to June 10 with a right elbow inflammation. On July 17 he was transferred to San Antonio. He carried a no-hitter into the eighth inning, retiring 21 of the first 22 batters faced, before allowing a single, on July 23.
He made his MLB debut on August 8, 2004 against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. In the 2004 season, he pitched in seven games (starting five), winning two and losing four, and had a 5.52 ERA overall. He was one of 15 players to make their Major League debuts for Seattle this season.
Baek was non-tendered by the Mariners in December 2005 following a disappointing year in Triple-A with the Tacoma Rainiers. Baek returned to the Rainiers for the 2006 season. He posted an 11-4 record with a 2.80 ERA, which earned him a recall to the Mariners in August 2006, following their trade of Jamie Moyer to the Philadelphia Phillies. After that, he was moved to being a relief pitcher and spot starter for the Mariners.
San Diego Padres
In May 2007, Baek was designated for assignment by the Mariners. Later in the month, he was traded to the San Diego Padres for Jared Wells. Baek hit his first career home run on July 20, 2008, off Jaime Garcia.
On October 8, 2009, the Padres released Baek.
Orix Buffaloes
On November 14, 2011, he signed with Orix Buffaloes. However, he didn't play any games in 2012.
He was released by Buffaloes on October 5, 2012.