Hanwha Eagles acquire ex-big league pitcher

The Korean baseball club Hanwha Eagles on Friday said they've acquired former major league pitcher Eric Surkamp.

The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) team signed Surkamp to a $450,000 deal for the rest of the season. The American left-hander replaces Esmil Rogers, also a former big leaguer who was released last month while suffering from an elbow injury.

Surkamp made nine starts for the Oakland Athletics earlier this season, going 0-5 with a 6.98 ERA. He was waived by the A's, and the Texas Rangers claimed him on June 29 before sending him to the minors.

The 28-year-old didn't make an appearance for the Rangers' organization.

Surkamp has also pitched for the San Francisco Giants, the Chicago White Sox and the Los Angeles Dodgers, and has a career record of 4-8 and a 6.68 ERA in 52 appearances.

He has a 52-23 record in 137 career minor league games with a 3.15 ERA.

The Eagles said Surkamp throws fastballs, cutters, curves and changeups. He's scheduled to arrive here Saturday.

Surkamp is a familiar name to Korean fans of the major league. Lee Dae-ho, the South Korean slugger for the Seattle Mariners, hit his first big league home run off Surkamp on April 8. (Yonhap)