San Diego, why did you hold a heart for 2.1 billion won? Many pitchers succeeded after returning to Korea
Feb 15, 2025
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The San Diego Padres had the best pitcher in the KBO League at 'Hul Price'. The San Diego club officially announced the recruitment of left-hander Kyle Hart on the 14th (Korea time). The San Diego club announced that it has signed Hart to a one-year contract and includes a club option for the 2026 season.
The details of the contract will be $1 million (about 1.4 billion won) in annual salary for the 2025 season, and an additional $500,000 in buyouts if he leaves the team this year. If the contract is extended as a club option for the 2026 season, he could receive an annual salary of up to $7.5 million from $5 million. In the end, Hart's guaranteed annual salary is $1.5 million this year. If San Diego renews its contract next season, it has only set up safety measures to significantly increase its salary.
Hart played in the KBO League last year wearing an NC Dinos uniform and played in 26 games, 13 wins, 3 losses, and a 2.60 ERA in an S-class performance. He topped the league's strikeout category with 182 strikeouts, and his performance fell sharply due to poor condition at the end of the regular season, but he was aiming for a three-time pitcher. He ranked second in the league in the ERA (2.69), tied for third in multiple wins (13 wins), and second in winning percentage (0.813). Pitcher Golden Glove also went to Hart.
San Diego got a top starting agent who won the KBO League Golden Glove for $1.5 million at a bargain price. Hart virtually rejected the renewal of his contract with NC and burned his will to try again in the Major League. Several clubs showed interest in Hearts, but the team that reached the final agreement was San Diego.
In fact, the treatment itself is regrettable. The $1.5 million that Hart will be virtually guaranteed this season is not a high salary even for foreign players in the KBO League. In Major League Baseball, it is a bargain. Mel Rojas Jr. (KT), James Nail (KIA) and Guillermo Herredia (SSG), the highest-paid foreign players this year, will receive up to $1.8 million (about 2.6 billion won) this year. The guaranteed annual salary itself is more than $1.6 million, which is more than Hart will receive this year.
So what aspect of Hearts did San Diego pay attention to. San Diego coach Mike Shildt said in a round interview with reporters at the spring camp on the 14th, `Many players went to Korea and succeeded as some parts got better. I think Hearts have a real chance to do that. I returned to the Major League after performing better than anyone else in Korea last year. He gained more experience and more understanding skills. It will be fun to watch his pitches."
When asked about the possibility of deploying left-hander Hart in San Diego's starting rotation with many right-handers, Shildt said, "It's good to balance. But I don't think it's absolute. Right-handers have other advantages. I don't know what will happen yet. There are various ways right-handers can deal with left-handers, tooHe did not guarantee Hart to join the rotation.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
