KBO: Three former A's players to watch right now with MLB season paused

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The A's should be fighting off AL West contenders and listening to their fans boo the Houston Astros right now. With the continued coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, however, MLB continues to be on pause. 

That doesn't mean all of baseball is in purgatory, though. 

The Korean Baseball Organization celebrated its Opening Day late Monday night and early Tuesday morning for those on the East coast. A's fans can watch some familiar faces in the KBO, too. 

Three former A's players currently are on KBO rosters for the 2020 season. Eric Jokisch and Taylor Motter, both of whom had minor league experience with the A's, also are playing in the KBO.

Let's take a look at some players Oakland fans should keep their eyes on in the KBO. 

Raul Alcantara, RHP, Doosan Bears 

Alcantara, 27, made his MLB debut with the A's in 2016. He made five starts and had a 7.25 ERA. The next season wasn't too much better for him either. 

In 2017, Alcantara had a 7.13 ERA over eight appearances -- four starts. One of his main problems was being prone to the long ball. Alcantara allowed 14 homers over 46 1/3 innings for the A's.

Alcantara started Opening Day for the Bears and was charged with the loss after giving up three earned runs in six innings. He went 11-11 with a 4.01 ERA for the KT Wiz last season.

Aaron Brooks, RHP, Kia Tigers

The A's acquired Brooks from the Kansas City Royals in a 2015 trade centered around Ben Zobrist. Oh, Sean Manaea also went to Oakland in that trade.

Brooks went 5-7 with a 5.71 ERA over three seasons in Oakland. The A's traded him to the Chicago Cubs in 2016, but then purchased him again in 2018. 

The 6-foot-4 right-hander has a 9-13 record and 6.49 ERA in his MLB career. 

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Dan Straily, RHP, Lotte Giants 

Straily, now 31, easily is the most-known name on the list. He spent his first three seasons with the A's and has an eight-year MLB career. 

The veteran right-hander was part of the A's five-player trade with the Cubs in 2014 to acquire Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel. 

Straily has experience as a starter and reliever. In Oakland, he was a starter and went 13-11 with a 4.11 ERA.

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