Kiwoom Heroes release Yasiel Puig, sign pitcher Raul Alcantara
Doosan Bears starter Raul Alcantara is shown in this photo captured from Alcantara's social media.
The Kiwoom Heroes announced Monday they have cut ties with former National League All-Star outfielder Yasiel Puig during his second tour of duty in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO).
In a corresponding move, the Heroes signed right-hander Raul Alcantara, who previously pitched for two other KBO clubs, the KT Wiz and the Doosan Bears, between 2019 and 2024. The Dominican pitcher will make US$250,000 in guaranteed salary for the rest of this season and can earn $150,000 more in incentives.
KBO teams are each allowed to carry three foreign players, with no more than two pitchers. While nine teams began this season with two foreign pitchers and one foreign hitter, the Heroes bucked the trend by going with Puig and another outfielder, Ruben Cardenas, as their two foreign hitters, and starter Kenny Rosenberg as their only foreign pitcher.
The Heroes had hoped to add some thump to their lineup while giving young pitchers a chance to start at the KBO level behind Rosenberg and a homegrown veteran pitcher, Ha Yeong-min.
However, Puig missed a big chunk of the preseason with injuries and never really found his groove at the plate. He leaves with a .212/.285/.340 line with six home runs and 20 RBIs in 40 games while playing recent games with an injured left shoulder.
Puig had first played for the Heroes in 2022, when they reached the Korean Series, and batted .277/.367/.474 with 21 homers and 73 RBIs in 126 games then.
The Heroes are in last place at 14-35-0 (wins-losses-ties). They are also dead last in team batting average (.227) and team ERA (6.03).
In the 32-year-old Alcantara, they are getting a proven commodity who won 20 games for the Bears in 2020 and 13 games for them in his second stint in 2023.
Alcantara was cut loose in July last year after struggling through elbow problems. He appeared in five games for Leones de Yucatan in Mexico this year, with a 0-1 record and a 7.17 ERA over 21 1/3 innings.
In 101 career KBO games, Alcantara posted a 46-24 record with a 3.21 ERA in 627 2/3 innings.
Alcantara is scheduled to arrive in Korea on Sunday and will start going through paperwork Monday to get his visa processed. He will join Rosenberg (3-4, 3.95 ERA) and Ha (4-5, 5.26 ERA) in the rotation, which will later welcome back some youngsters from the minor league.
"We hope rebuilding our starting rotation will give the team a jolt for the rest of the season," the Heroes said in a statement. "We're saddened to part ways with Puig, who has been a good teammate. He will return to the United States to get treatment for his left shoulder, and we wish him all the best for the future."