Erick Fedde
A journeyman pitcher who revived his career in South Korea, mastering new pitches to earn a triumphant return to Major League Baseball.
Born 1993 (age 33)·American baseball player·Birthday: February 25·Millennials
Biography
Erick Fedde's baseball path is a testament to reinvention. Drafted in the first round by the Washington Nationals in 2014, he showed flashes of promise but struggled to find consistency over five seasons, his ERA often hovering at an unflattering level. By 2022, his MLB future seemed dim. His pivot to the NC Dinos of the Korean Baseball Organization became a career-altering masterstroke. In the KBO, Fedde wasn't just another import; he transformed into a dominant ace, winning the league's equivalent of the Cy Young Award in 2023 by leading in wins, ERA, and strikeouts. He didn't just overpower hitters; he refined a sweeping sweeper pitch that became his signature, baffling batters with its sharp, lateral break. That single season of dominance made him a coveted free agent, leading to a multi-year deal with the Chicago White Sox and a chance to prove his Korean success was no fluke on the biggest stage.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Erick was born in 1993, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Erick Was Born
The biggest hits of 1993
#1 Movie
Jurassic Park
Best Picture
Schindler's List
#1 TV Show
60 Minutes
Erick's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1993Born
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1998Started school
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2006Became a teenager
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2009Could drive
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2011Could vote
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2014Turned 21
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2023Turned 30
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 33 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the Choi Dong-won Award (KBO's MVP for pitchers) in 2023 with the NC Dinos.
- Achieved the KBO pitching Triple Crown in 2023, leading the league in wins, ERA, and strikeouts.
- Was selected in the first round (18th overall) by the Washington Nationals in the 2014 MLB Draft.
- Pitched a complete-game shutout in his final start for the NC Dinos before returning to MLB.
Did You Know?
He played college baseball at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV).
He underwent Tommy John surgery shortly after being drafted, delaying his professional debut.
His dominant 2023 KBO season earned him a two-year, $15 million contract with the Chicago White Sox.
He is one of the few players to win a major pitching award in both the United States (minor leagues) and South Korea.
“I went to Korea to learn how to pitch, not just throw.”
