With the NC Dinos completing all foreign players’ composition for the ninth time, only the announcement by the KIA Tigers is left. In the 2025 season, the best-ever foreign players in terms of “name value” are expected to visit Korea.
Since the end of this season, the 10 teams have been making major and minor changes. Notably, all teams have adopted “replacement” cards in the composition of foreign players. None of the teams chose “companion” with all three players who played together during this season. As a result, many players with “name value” are visiting the KBO League.
As of Wednesday, the Kia Tigers have failed to complete the formation of foreign players for the 2025 season. The move came after NC acquired Logan Allen, who played for the San Diego Padres, Cleveland Guardians, Baltimore Orioles, and Arizona Diamondbacks, as a new foreign pitcher on Wednesday. At this point, however, it is safe to say that the composition of foreign players for the 10 teams has been completed. Patrick Wisdom, who has 88 home runs in the Major League, will join the Kia Tigers soon.
There are many familiar names among players who join the KBO League with “New Face” in the 2025 season. As such, it can be said that many players who once made a name in the Major League visit the KBO League. There is a lot of criticism every year about the level of the league, but this is an opportunity for foreign players. This is because they can seek to return to the Major League based on their performance in the KBO League. That’s how many players returned to the Major League after playing in Korea.
One of the most notable cases of “reverse export” is Merrill Kelly. Kelly never entered the big league before joining the KBO League. Now he has 53 wins while playing for six seasons in the Arizona Diamondbacks alone. It is not the only game. And Eric Peddy, who was named MVP last year by achieving “triple crown” by garnering 20 wins, returned to the Chicago White Sox and changed his uniform to the St. Louis Cardinals through a trade.
In addition, Mike Tuckman, who wore the Hanwha Eagles uniform in 2022, will play for the White Sox next year after playing as the starting player for the Chicago Cubs for two years, and Ben Lively, who played for the Samsung Lions, is in charge of the starting lineup for the Cleveland Guardians. In addition, there are many players who have continued their successful baseball careers in the United States after experiencing the KBO League. A large number of foreign players with name values who have seen such cases are visiting Korea. 안전놀이터
Among the new foreign players to join in the 2025 season, Cole Irvin of the Doosan Bears has the most splendid career. Irvin, who was selected by the Philadelphia Phillies as the 137th overall pick in the fifth round of the Major League Rookie Draft in 2016, has 28 wins and a 4.54 ERA over six seasons, including the Oakland Athletics, Baltimore Orioles and Minnesota Twins. He played a full-time rotation and even had 10 wins in the 2021 season.
And Yoni Chirinos, who signed a $1 million guaranteed contract with the LG Twins, is also facing challenges. Chirinos has 20 wins and a 4.22 ERA over six seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays, Atlanta Braves, and Miami Marlins, while Mitch White, a Korean-American who has teamed up with SSG Landers, also pitched in 71 games over five seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Toronto Blue Jays, San Francisco Giants, and Milwaukee Brewers, with a 4-12 record and a 5.25 ERA.
The mound is not the only big name. Yasiel Puig, who played for the Los Angeles Dodgers with “Korean Monster” Ryu Hyun-jin, returned to the KBO League by joining hands with the Kiwoom Heroes. After being selected by the New York Yankees as the 209th overall pick in the sixth round of the 2011 rookie draft, Jake Cave, who had 337 hits with 45 homers and a 0.236 OPS 0.692 in 523 games over seven seasons with the Minnesota Twins, Philadelphia, and Colorado Rockies, joined Doosan.
In addition, Esteban Florentine, who was classified as a “special prospect” by the New York Yankees, will head to Daejeon. Wisdom, who debuted with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2018 and recorded 274 hits and 88 homers in 455 games during seven seasons with the Texas Rangers and Cubs, is also set to join KIA.
However, not all names lead to success. In the past, players with stellar major league careers entered the KBO League, but not a few players returned without leaving a significant impact, so everything should be opened. However, the careers of players who visit Korea every year are getting better, and the KBO League is becoming a stage where foreign players can fulfill their dreams.
