Lotte Giants sign new pitcher Alec Gamboa

New Lotte Giants pitcher Alec Gamboa signs his contract with the Korea Baseball Organization club, Wednesday. Courtesy of Lotte Giants

The Lotte Giants announced their signing of new American pitcher Alec Gamboa on Wednesday as a replacement for injured starter Charlie Barnes.

The Giants said Gamboa, who had been pitching for the Los Angeles Dodgers' Triple-A team, Oklahoma City Comets, since 2023, will make $300,000 in guaranteed salary for the rest of the season and can earn another $30,000 in incentives. The Giants paid the Dodgers $100,000 in buyout.

Gamboa, a 28-year-old left-hander, was a ninth-round draft pick by the Dodgers in 2019. He does not have any major league experience.

This season, Gamboa went 0-2 with a 4.19 ERA in eight outings, including two starts.

Over his minor league career, Gamboa has appeared in 131 games, 41 of them in starts.

The Giants said Gamboa averages 151 kilometers per hour with his four-seam fastball, and mixes it with a slider and a changeup. They also said they valued his team-first mindset and work ethic that should help his transition to the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO).

Gamboa is scheduled to arrive in Korea on Friday.

The Giants waived Barnes, their Opening Day starter who was diagnosed with a shoulder injury last week and was ruled out for about two months.

Barnes had a 3-4 record with a 5.32 ERA in eight starts this season, his fourth in the KBO. He left the Korean league with a 35-32 record and a 3.58 ERA in 94 appearances.

Through Tuesday's action, the Giants were in third place in the 10-team league at 24-17-2 (wins-losses-ties), three games behind two co-leaders, the LG Twins and the Hanwha Eagles.

The Giants are trying to make the postseason for the first time since 2017. They are seventh in team ERA with 4.46.