How much is Austin Dean’s new LG Twins contract, and how does it compare with previous foreign-player salary records?

Dean’s one-year deal is worth $2 million, setting a record for a foreign hitter’s annual salary in South Korean baseball. The previous hitter record was $1.8 million, while Dustin Nippert’s $2.1 million in 2017 remains the highest annual salary for any foreign player.

What were Austin Dean’s leading KBO statistics in the 2026 season?

Dean played all 144 games and led the KBO with a 1.062 on-base plus slugging mark. He hit 41 home runs, third in the league, and recorded 127 RBIs and 180 hits, both ranking third; his.331 batting average ranked fourth.

Which awards has Austin Dean won since joining the LG Twins?

Dean won the Golden Glove at first base in both 2023 and 2024. In 2024, he also received the KBO Fielding Award at first base and led the league with 132 RBIs.

LG Twins bring back slugger Dean on record contract for foreign hitter

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Summary

The LG Twins announced Thursday in South Korea that American slugger Austin Dean will return for his fifth KBO season on a one-year, $2 million contract, the highest annual salary for a foreign hitter in league history. In 2026, he played all 144 games and set a franchise record with 41 home runs. Dean also led the league in on-base plus slugging and ranked third in both RBIs and hits.

Key Facts

The previous foreign-hitter annual salary record was $1.8 million, set by Mel Rojas Jr. and Guillermo Heredia in 2025.
Dustin Nippert holds the record for the highest annual salary for any foreign KBO player, earning $2.1 million in 2017.
Dean finished the 2026 season with a.331 batting average and 180 hits, ranking fourth and third in the league, respectively.
Dean won the first-base Golden Glove in 2023 and 2024, and the KBO Fielding Award at first base in 2024.
Since joining the Twins in 2023, Dean has led all KBO players with 127 home runs and 449 RBIs.

By Yonhap

Published Nov 12, 2026 10:54 am KST

Austin Dean of the LG Twins celebrates after hitting a solo home run against the Hanwha Eagles during the clubs' Korea Baseball Organization regular-season game at Daejeon Hanwha Life Ballpark, Sept. 27. Yonhap

The LG Twins announced Thursday they will bring back their American slugger Austin Dean on the most lucrative deal for a foreign hitter in South Korean baseball history.

The Twins said Dean will be back for his fifth season in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) on a new one-year deal worth $2 million.

The previous record for the biggest annual salary for a foreign hitter had been $1.8 million, set by both former KT Wiz outfielder Mel Rojas Jr. and SSG Landers outfielder Guillermo Heredia in 2025.

Former Doosan Bears pitcher Dustin Nippert holds the mark for the largest annual salary for a foreign player, with the $2.1 million he made in 2017.

In 2026, Dean played all 144 games and set a franchise record with 41 home runs, finishing third overall in the league in that category. He led the KBO in on-base plus slugging with 1.062 while finishing third with 127 RBIs and 180 hits, and fourth with a .331 batting average.

He has been among the most productive hitters since first joining the Twins in 2023. He won the Golden Glove at first base in 2023 and 2024. Also in 2024, Dean led the KBO with 132 RBIs and earned the KBO Fielding Award at first base.

Since 2023, Dean leads all KBO players with 127 home runs and 449 RBIs.

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