Big spending on free agents pays off in KBO just weeks into season

The big spending from last winter's free agent market is paying off, with several KBO clubs seeing exceptional performances from their high-priced signings just weeks into the new season.

Most notably, Kang Baek-ho of the Hanwha Eagles, who signed a deal worth over 10 billion won ($6.7 million), has batted an average of .337, bagging 10 home runs and a league-leading 48 RBIs since the season kicked off in March. During a game against KT Wiz on Saturday, he drove in a career-high-tying seven runs in a single game, including two home runs. His Wins Above Replacement (WAR), at 1.71, already nearly matches his entire 2024 season total of 1.74.

The signing initially drew some skepticism, with critics questioning whether the Eagles had overpaid. Hanwha also gave up a 1.4 billion won compensation fee and relief pitcher Han Seung-hyeok to complete the deal.

The Wiz signed three veterans for a combined 10.8 billion won. Outfielder Kim Hyun-soo, aged 38, is batting .298 with three home runs and 31 RBIs. Outfielder Choi Won-jun, who signed a four-year, 4.8 billion won deal, has a .351 batting average and 11 stolen bases. Backup catcher Han Seung-taek has also chipped in with his trademark defense. The three combine for a WAR of 2.6.

The Doosan Bears' Park Chan-ho, who signed a four-year 8 billion won deal, is also performing solidly. His batting average of .255 is down from last season, but his 13 stolen bases and defensive play remain among the league's best. Relief pitcher Lee Young-ha, whom the Bears signed for 5.2 billion won over four years, has also stepped up to fill the closer role vacated by Kim Taek-yeon.

One notable trend from the free agent market was the high demand for veterans in their mid-to-late-30s. Samsung even paid a 1.5 billion won compensation fee to sign 43-year-old Choi Hyung-woo to a two-year, 2.6 billion won deal. Back in blue for the first time in nine years, Choi is currently ranked in the top 10 in batting average, ranking sixth with .343. He also has seven home runs and 29 RBIs.

The LG Twins locked up center fielder Park Hae-min, 36, on a four-year, 6.5 billion won deal after fierce competition. Park has been putting on a defensive clinic — against the Samsung Lions on May 13, he made three outstanding catches on would-be extra-base hits to snap the team's three-game losing streak. Pitcher Kim Jin-seong, 41, who signed a two-plus-one deal worth 1.6 billion won, is also delivering, currently ranked second with eight holds. The Kia Tigers' franchise star, Yang Hyeon-jong, inked a two-plus-one deal worth 4.5 billion won. Past his prime but far from finished, he has gone 3-3 with a 4.46 ERA over eight starts.

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.

BY KIM HYO-KYOUNG. [lee.jian@joongang.co.kr]