John Vincent Koronka (born July 3, 1980) is an American former
professional baseball
Professional baseball is organized baseball in which players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system. It is played in baseball league, leagues and associated farm teams throughout the world.
Mod ...
pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("pitches") the baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw ...
, who played in
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...
(MLB) for the
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The Cubs compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as part of the National League (NL) Central division. The club plays its home games at Wrigley Field, which is located ...
,
Texas Rangers, and
Florida Marlins. He also played in
Nippon Professional Baseball
or NPB is the highest level of baseball in Japan. Locally, it is often called , meaning ''Professional Baseball''.
Outside Japan, it is often just referred to as "Japanese baseball". The roots of the league can be traced back to the formation ...
(NPB) for the
Orix Buffaloes
The are a Nippon Professional Baseball team formed as a result of the 2004 Nippon Professional Baseball realignment by the merger of the Orix BlueWave of Kobe, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan, and the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes of Osaka, Osaka Prefectur ...
.
Playing career
Cincinnati Reds
Koronka was selected by the
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Cincinnati. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League Central, Central division and were a charter member of ...
in the 12th round of the
1998 MLB Draft
The 1998 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft of high school and college baseball players, was held on June 2 and 3, 1998. A total of 1445 players were drafted over the course of 50 rounds.
First round selections ...
. While playing in the Reds farm system with the
Stockton Ports
The Stockton Ports are a Minor League Baseball team of the California League and the Single-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics. They are located in Stockton, California, and are named for the city's seaport. The team plays its home games at Ba ...
in 2002, he was named to the
California League
The California League is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in California. Having been classified at various levels throughout its existence, it operated at Class A-Advanced from 1990 until its demotion to Single-A following Major Leag ...
All-Star team. On December 16, 2002, he was selected by the
Texas Rangers in the
Rule 5 Draft but did not make the Rangers opening day roster and was returned to the Reds on March 21, 2003.
Chicago Cubs
Koronka was traded by the Reds to the
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The Cubs compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as part of the National League (NL) Central division. The club plays its home games at Wrigley Field, which is located ...
on August 26, 2003, for
Phil Norton. He made his major league debut for the Cubs on June 1, against the
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are an American professional baseball team based in Los Angeles. The Dodgers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Established in 1883 in the city of Brooklyn ...
and gave up 3
runs over 5 innings,
walked 3, and
struck out
In baseball or softball, a strikeout (or strike-out) occurs when a batter accumulates three strikes during a time at bat. It usually means that the batter is out. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters, and is denot ...
5 for the
win.
Texas Rangers
On March 31, 2006, Koronka was traded to the
Texas Rangers for
Freddie Bynum
Freddie Lee Bynum Jr. (born March 15, 1980) is an American former professional baseball shortstop and outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago Cubs, Oakland Athletics, and Baltimore Orioles. Bynum also played in Nippon ...
, whom the Rangers had just acquired from the
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics (often referred to as the A's) are an American professional baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division. The te ...
. Koronka started 23 games for the Rangers in 2006, going 7–7 with a 5.69 ERA. He was expected to compete for a spot on the rotation in , but failed to make the Rangers' big league roster. He was optioned to the Triple-A
Oklahoma RedHawks prior to the start of the 2007 season.
Koronka made two starts in 2007 for the Rangers going 0–2 with a 7.84 ERA.
Cleveland Indians
He was designated for assignment on July 1, 2007, and subsequently claimed off outright waivers on July 9, 2007, by the
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. Since , they have played at Progressive F ...
. He was assigned to their Triple-A team, the
Buffalo Bisons
The Buffalo Bisons (known colloquially as the Herd) are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. Located in Buffalo, New York, the team plays their home games at Sahlen Fiel ...
. With the Bisons, he made 9 starts and went 3–3 with a 3.54 ERA.
On September 1, 2007, he was
designated for assignment and outrighted to the minor leagues on September 12. Koronka opted for minor league
free agency on November 3, 2007.
Colorado Rockies/Orix Buffaloes
On December 21, 2007, the
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are an American professional baseball team based in Denver. The Rockies compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. The team plays its home baseball games at Coors Fie ...
signed Koronka to a minor league contract with an invitation to
spring training
Spring training is the preseason in Major League Baseball (MLB), a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for Schedule (workplace), roster and position spo ...
. He was 5–3 in 13 appearances (12 starts) for the
Colorado Springs Sky Sox
The Colorado Springs Sky Sox were a Minor League Baseball team in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The team played in the Pacific Coast League (PCL) and was the Triple-A affiliate of the major league Milwaukee Brewers (2015–2018), Colorado Rockie ...
. On June 23, , the Rockies released Koronka so he could sign with a Japanese team, the
Orix Buffaloes
The are a Nippon Professional Baseball team formed as a result of the 2004 Nippon Professional Baseball realignment by the merger of the Orix BlueWave of Kobe, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan, and the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes of Osaka, Osaka Prefectur ...
. He started 3 games for the Buffaloes, finishing 0–1 with a 6.75 E.R.A..
Florida Marlins
On January 13, , Koronka signed a minor league deal with the
Florida Marlins. He started two games for the Marlins (0-2, 11.75 E.R.A.) and spent most of the season with the
New Orleans Zephyrs
New is an adjective referring to something recently made, discovered, or created.
New or NEW may refer to:
Music
* New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz
Albums and EPs
* ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013
* ''New'' (EP), by Regurgitator, ...
. He was granted free agency on October 8, .
Los Angeles Dodgers
On January 28, 2010, Koronka signed a minor league contract with the
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are an American professional baseball team based in Los Angeles. The Dodgers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Established in 1883 in the city of Brooklyn ...
with an invite to spring training. He began 2010 with the
Chattanooga Lookouts in the Double-A
Southern League. After seven starts with the Lookouts he was promoted to the AAA
Albuquerque Isotopes. He made one start with the Isotopes, allowing eight runs in 1 innings. He was released on June 2.
Lancaster Barnstormers
On July 26, 2010, Koronka signed a contract with the Lancaster Barnstormers of the Independent Atlantic League. He was released on August 3, 2010. He was re-signed on March 8, 2011.
Transactions
Post-playing career
Koronka worked for the Chicago Cubs as a regional scout in charge of Florida from 2011 to 2020.
In March 2021, Koronka was hired as an assistant coach for the Embry–Riddle Eagles
The Embry–Riddle Eagles are the athletic teams that represent Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University, located in Daytona Beach, in intercollegiate sports as a member of the NCAA Division II ranks, primarily competing in the Sunshine State Co ...
baseball program.
References
External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:Koronka, John
1980 births
Living people
Major League Baseball pitchers
Baseball players from Florida
Chicago Cubs players
Texas Rangers players
Florida Marlins players
Billings Mustangs players
Gulf Coast Reds players
Clinton LumberKings players
Dayton Dragons players
Mudville Nine players
Chattanooga Lookouts players
Stockton Ports players
West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx players
Iowa Cubs players
Oklahoma RedHawks players
Buffalo Bisons (minor league) players
Colorado Springs Sky Sox players
Orix Buffaloes players
New Orleans Zephyrs players
Albuquerque Isotopes players
American expatriate baseball players in Japan
Lancaster Barnstormers players
Southern Maryland Blue Crabs players
Embry–Riddle Eagles baseball coaches
Chicago Cubs scouts