Kia Tigers pitcher Yang Hyeon-jong, left, shakes arms with the membership’s normal supervisor Shim Jae-hak after signing a brand new take care of the Tigers, Thursday. Courtesy of Kia Tigers
The Kia Tigers stated Thursday they’ve re-signed their very own free agent pitcher Yang Hyeon-jong.
Yang, 37, agreed to a two-year contract, with an possibility for a 3rd season, value as much as 4.5 billion gained ($3.1 million), together with incentives.
Yang has spent his whole Korea Baseball Group (KBO) profession with the Tigers beginning in 2007, after the Tigers picked him first total on the earlier yr’s draft. The most recent deal probably ensures the left-handed pitcher will end his profession with the identical membership in his hometown of Gwangju.
Yang is the KBO’s profession strikeout chief with 2,185. He additionally ranks first amongst all KBO pitchers with 442 begins and 184 wins in begins, and ranks second with 2,656 2/3 innings.
He’s additionally the one pitcher in KBO historical past to toss no less than 1,500 innings in 11 straight seasons. He has gained three Korean Sequence titles with the Tigers in 2009, 2017 and 2024.
In 2025, Yang went 7-9 with a 5.06 ERA in 30 begins, for his lowest win whole and highest ERA in a dozen years because the Tigers missed the postseason of their title protection.
Yang, the 2017 regular-season and Korean Sequence MVP, sits second on the all-time listing with 186 wins total, 24 behind former Hanwha Eagles star Music Jin-woo. Music can be the all-time chief with 3,003 innings pitched, a document that Yang will attempt to chase down over the length of his new contract.
“I’ve gained championships and set many information in a Tigers uniform however my job just isn’t completed,” Yang stated. “Till the second I take off this uniform, I might wish to be a constant performer for our Tigers followers. As a veteran participant, I’ll share my expertise and know-how with youthful teammates, and assist convey the workforce collectively in order that we are able to win one other title.”
The Tigers have misplaced some key gamers in free company this offseason, together with designated hitter Choi Hyoung-woo, the league’s all-time RBI chief, and All-Star shortstop Park Chan-ho, however efficiently retained the longtime face of the franchise in Yang.
