'I've always believed I could hit': ex-MLB slugger Hiura ready to showcase what he has in KBO

Keston Hiura of the Kiwoom Heroes takes part in batting practice at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, May 21. Courtesy of Kiwoom Heroes

Having flashed power potential earlier in his career, former major league infielder Keston Hiura believes he still has a lot to give, now that he has taken his talent to South Korea.

The 29-year-old American has signed with the Kiwoom Heroes of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), replacing Trenton Brooks as the team's lone foreign hitter. Through Thursday's action, the Heroes ranked last in the KBO with 27 home runs, and Brooks left the league as the only foreign-born hitter without a home run this year.

The Heroes are hoping that Hiura, who smacked 19 home runs in only 84 games for the Milwaukee Brewers as a rookie in 2019, can provide some much-needed punch to their lineup.

"I'm excited for this opportunity. I'm ready for this experience. This can be a lot of fun," Hiura said in a media scrum at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Thursday, the day after landing in South Korea. While waiting for his visa to be issued, Hiura met with his new team for the first time Thursday and had a brief batting practice session.

"I've always believed that I could hit," Hiura added. "I was able to debut fairly early in my career, played my fair amount of big league games. I think the past few years where I've played well in the minor leagues, got called up, was able to play a little bit but not every day. Understanding where I'm at in my career, I thought this would be a great opportunity for me to showcase what I still have and what I know I still have. As soon as we were able to talk to teams out here, I was all on board on coming here."

With the Brewers, Hiura was teammates with former KBO MVP-winning pitcher Josh Lindblom, who told Hiura "nothing but great things" about the South Korean league. Hiura also has a familiar face on his new team in starting pitcher Kenny Rosenberg.

They were teammates in Triple-A for the Los Angeles Angels in 2024, and Rosenberg even threw a live batting practice session with Hiura in the box just a few weeks ago in Irvine, California. Rosenberg, having already signed with the Heroes for his second tour of duty at that time, was still waiting for his visa to be issued. Hiura, meanwhile, was looking for a new opportunity after being released by the Los Angeles Dodgers in early April.

Keston Hiura of the Kiwoom Heroes takes part in batting practice at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, May 21. Courtesy of Kiwoom Heroes

"At that time, I wasn't talking to the team. It happened so quick," Hiura recalled with a smile. "Once I started talking to the team, I realized, 'Oh, that's the same team as Kenny.' I had to keep it a secret. As soon as they announced, he reached out to me, congratulating me and telling me how much fun it is out here."

Hiura followed up his strong rookie campaign with 13 homers in 59 games for the Brewers in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, but he also led the National League with 85 strikeouts. Hiura also saw his batting average nosedive from .303 to .212.

In 2021, Hiura batted only .168 with four homers in 61 games. He rediscovered his stroke with 14 homers in 80 games in 2022, but then spent the entire 2023 season in the minors.

He bounced between the Los Angeles Angels in 2024 and the Colorado Rockies in 2025, while also having minor league deals with the Detroit Tigers and the Dodgers along the way.

Hiura is now ready for a fresh start.

"I wish I could be here sooner and had more of an opportunity to be here and spend a full season with the team," he said. "I'm ready to go out there and give everything I got. I always work hard. I like to play the game the right way, the hard way, never giving anything away.

"You know, it's a hard game to play. People make mistakes," he continued. "No one's perfect but it's the next pitch, it's the next at-bat, the next game where you have the opportunity to do something good again. Not many places in general you're able to do that. There's a lot of baseball to be played and there's always a new day. So I'm excited to get back on the grind and compete."

Keston Hiura of the Kiwoom Heroes listens to a question during a media availability at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, May 21. Yonhap

Hiura was an outfielder in college but was drafted as a second baseman. He then began logging more time at first base. Though versatile, Hiura has had some adventures at each position. He even cracked Thursday that his best position is "hitting."

"I know I'm not tall (for a first baseman) but I believe I can help save runs over there and help the team win by doing that. So I take pride in that," said Hiura, listed at 178 centimeters. "Obviously, I've had my fair share of mishaps at second but I'm always looking to get better and looking to improve and work on that."

Born to a Chinese American mother and a Japanese American father, Hiura said he was also looking forward to playing professional in Asia for the first time.

"I was fortunate enough to play in Japan and Taiwan for Team USA in 2016. Just to experience that and how baseball is played over in Asia, it's special," he said. "Very loud fans and you could just tell that everyone here is having a lot of fun. So it's always been on my mind to come out here and play overseas and I'm just glad it came forward."