The LG Twins of the Korea Baseball Group are bringing again right-hander Elieser Hernández and first baseman Austin Dean for 2025. Per Jeeho Yoo of Yonhap Information (X hyperlink), Hernández will make $1.3MM whereas Dean will get $1.7MM.
Hernández, 30 in Might, was a midseason alternative for the Twins. As soon as a possible rotation constructing block with the Marlins, he missed vital time on account of accidents, together with your entire 2023 season. He returned in 2024 to get restricted seems to be with the Dodgers and Brewers earlier than heading abroad to affix the Twins in late July.
He went on to log 47 innings for them over 11 appearances, together with 9 begins. He allowed 4.02 earned runs per 9 with a 28.2% strikeout fee, 8.2% stroll fee and 51.2% floor ball fee. Yoo provides that Hernandez additionally tossed 11 scoreless innings within the postseason. The membership clearly appreciated what they noticed and can convey Hernández again for one more season.
For Dean, 31, this might be his third season as a Twin. He performed in components of 5 MLB seasons from 2018 to 2022 however by no means acquired greater than a part-time function. He has discovered an everyday gig in Korea and has made probably the most of it. He hit 23 dwelling runs final yr and slashed .313/.376/.515, then adopted that up with 32 dwelling runs and a .319/.384/.573 line in 2024.
The MLB minimal wage goes to be $760K subsequent yr, so each gamers have gotten themselves up into a better stage of incomes energy, and sure with some further job safety as properly. For the Twins, in addition they signed right-hander Yonny Chirinos this week, so this fills their quota of foreign-born gamers. Every KBO workforce is allowed three such gamers, with a most of two pitchers.