New LG Twins pitcher Kim Kang-ryul poses in front of the team’s logo at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul after signing a free agent contract with the club, in this photo provided by the Twins on Dec. 13, 2024. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Dec. 13 (Korea Bizwire) – The LG Twins announced their signing of free agent relief pitcher Kim Kang-ryul on Friday.
The Seoul-based Twins said Kim signed a three-year contract, plus an option for a fourth year, worth up to 1.4 billion won (US$977,176). The deal includes a signing bonus of 500 million won.
Kim, 36, has spent all of his 14 seasons so far in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) with the Doosan Bears, the Twins’ Seoul rivals who share Jamsil Baseball Stadium as their home. In 448 career games, the right-hander has a 3.81 ERA over 476 2/3 innings with a 26-14 record, 46 saves and 56 holds.
In 2024, Kim appeared in 53 games and had a 3.00 ERA in 42 innings with 12 holds.
Kim is the second free agent reliever that the Twins signed this offseason, after former Kia Tigers setup man Jang Hyun-sik.
The Twins had the best bullpen ERA in 2023 with 3.43 and went on to win the Korean Series title that fall. In 2024, though, their bullpen ERA ballooned to 5.21, good for only sixth in the 10-team league.
After the 2023 season, their closer Go Woo-suk signed with the San Diego Padres, and setup man Yi Jung-yong began his mandatory military service.
You Young-chan, who took over as closer in 2024, underwent elbow surgery on Dec. 2 and is expected to miss the early part of the 2025 season.
Kim was the Bears’ closer in 2021, and the Twins said they were high on Kim’s versatility out of the bullpen.
“It wasn’t an easy decision to leave the team that I’ve been with for a long time, but now I will do my best to protect leads for the LG Twins,” Kim said. “Regardless of my role, I will try to help the team win.”
(Yonhap)
