Lim agrees to return with defending champs Lions
.jpg?w=728)
Lim Chang-yong signed an one-year deal to return his former club Samsung Lions on Wednesday. / Yonhap
By Kim Tong-hyung
In a decision that surprised no one, free agent pitcher Lim Chang-yong signed a contract to return to his former team Samsung Lions, Wednesday. In Lim, the Lions are probably getting an impact arm to strengthen their bullpen as they enter the new Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) season with aspirations for a fourth-consecutive championship title.
Lim’s one-year, 500 million won (about $465,00) deal with the Lions came a day after the 37-year-old was released by the Chicago Cubs in Major League Baseball, the top baseball competition in the United States.
Lim, who debuted with the Haitai Tigers (now Kia Tigers) in 1995, played for the Lions nine seasons until 2007 during a span when he was considered one of the league’s best pitchers. As a closer for the Lions, Lim led the league in saves in 1999 and 2004 and won 17 games as a starter in 2002.
After leaving the Lions, Lim spent five seasons with the Yakult Swallows of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball and was one of the league’s top closers.
However, he has not been able to leverage his success in Korea and Japan in the majors. Appearing in six games for the Cubs last season, Lim posted a 5.40 earned run average (ERA) over five innings.
After 13 seasons, Lim’s KBO record stands at 104 wins and 66 losses with 168 saves in 534 appearances.
"I am finally back home,’’ Lim said after the signing ceremony at the Lions’ training facility in Gyeongsan, North Gyeongsang Province.
"I will give everything that I have to this club. I am very old for a pitcher, but I am ready to perform.’’
Lions manager Ryu Joong-il is banking that Lim has plenty left in his tank. He has been desperate to find a shutdown pitcher for his bullpen after losing his former closer Oh Seung-hwan to the Hanshin Tigers in Japan during the offseason.
During his prime, Lim’s fastball was considered one of the best pitches ever to be thrown in the KBO as he got good velocity and movement on the ball delivered from his unorthodox side-arm angle. Radar gun readings show that Lim still can dial up his fastball to the upper 140 kilometer per hour levels.
"I will decide the role for Lim after seeing him actually pitch,’’ Ryu said.
"I think he has prepared well to pitch in the new season and we proved to be the club he will be pitching for. I think he will be a big help to our team.’’