With the KIA Tigers set to sign a new foreign hitter Patrick Wisdom, they plan to complete the recruitment of a new foreign pitcher within this month.
On March 27, Kia renewed its contract with foreign pitcher James Nail for a total of 1.8 million U.S. dollars (down payment of 400,000 dollars, annual salary of 1.2 million dollars, and option of 200,000 dollars). He took a breather while catching "Ace" nail, one of the biggest challenges of the Stove League.
More than two weeks have passed since Nail renewed her contract, and Kia has been checking various players. While excluding Eric Lauer, another foreign pitcher, from the list of players withheld, they found a new foreign pitcher. As for foreign hitters, they agonized over two options: renewing their contract with Socrates and recruiting a new pitcher.
KIA, which decided that it needed to strengthen its batting lineup, is pursuing a contract with Wizdom, who has a big league career. U.S. media "CBS Sports" reported on the 15th (Korea time) that "Wizdom signed a contract with KIA of the KBO League."
Since its debut in the big league in 2018, Wisdom has posted a batting average of 0.209 with 88 homers and 207 RBIs in 455 games and a batting average of 274 hits in 1,311 times at bat (on-base plus slugging) of 0.750 (OPS). From 2021 to 2023, Wisdom has achieved 20 homers for three consecutive years, showing off his slugging capability. As Wisdom can play defense against the first base, Kia, which had been agonizing over the first baseman, is expected to make up for its weaknesses through this recruitment.
"(The contract with Wizdom) is underway. It is progressing positively," a Kia official said on the day. However, as the team still has medical tests to go, it will take more time before the team officially announces its contract.
If Wisdom's medical test is completed without problems, Kia will have only one pitcher left until completing its formation of foreign players. Kia is looking for a pitcher who will surely be responsible for one of the pillars of its starting lineup.
KIA had a happy ending by finishing the 2024 season with a combined championship, but had difficulty managing the starting team throughout the season. Wil Crowe left the team in early May due to an injury, and at the end of August, even nails were injured, failing to play in the rest of the regular season. 바카라사이트
Cam Aldred, who was a substitute for Crowe's injury, and Eric Lauer, who joined the team in early August, performed their part. However, as the team's plan went awry, Korean pitchers had to bear a lot of burden.