Samsung Lions sign ex-MLB pitcher Seabold

Connor Seabold, new pitcher for the Samsung Lions, signs his contract with the Korea Baseball Organization club, in this photo provided by the Lions, Friday. Courtesy of Samsung Lions

Connor Seabold, new pitcher for the Samsung Lions, signs his contract with the Korea Baseball Organization club, in this photo provided by the Lions, Friday. Courtesy of Samsung Lions

The Samsung Lions announced their signing of former major league pitcher Connor Seabold on Friday.

The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) club said Seabold, 27, agreed to a one-year deal that could pay him up to $1 million. He will make $800,000 in salary and $100,000 in a signing bonus, with another $100,000 available in incentives.

A third-round pick by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2017 draft, Seabold made his major league debut with the Boston Red Sox in 2021, appearing in one game.

After five more starts with the Red Sox in 2022, Seabold was traded to the Colorado Rockies in January this year.

He made 27 appearances for the Rockies in 2023, including 13 starts, and had a 1-7 record with a 7.52 ERA over 87 1/3 innings.

Seabold also made eight starts in Triple-A this year, posting a 1-2 record and a 7.47 ERA in 31 1/3 innings.

According to the Baseball Savant website, Seabold threw four-seam fastball, slider, changeup and curveball in the majors this year. He averaged 92.6 miles per hour with his fastball, which would have put him in the top five among KBO starters this year.

The Lions said Seabold has great command on both sides of the plate and can complement his hard fastball with effective secondary pitches.

Seabold is no stranger to Korea. He pitched for the United States national team, as a member of Cal State Fullerton, at the 2015 Summer Universiade in the southwestern city of Gwangju, home of the KBO team Kia Tigers.

The Lions earlier replaced outfielder Jose Pirela and signed David MacKinnon to be their new foreign hitter for 2024. They are in talks with right-hander David Buchanan, who has been with the Lions since 2020.

KBO teams are allowed to sign a maximum three foreign players each, with no more than two pitchers. (Yonhap)

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