This picture exhibits the membership’s 4 foreign-born gamers for the 2026 Korea Baseball Group season. From left: pitcher Raul Alcantara, pitcher Nathan Wiles, outfielder Trenton Brooks and pitcher Yuto Kanakubo, Tuesday. Courtesy of the Kiwoom Heroes
The Kiwoom Heroes introduced their signings of all 4 foreign-born gamers for the 2026 season in Korean baseball Tuesday.
The Heroes will convey again right-handed starter Raul Alcantara for his second season with them whereas including right-hander Nathan Wiles to their rotation.
Trenton Brooks will probably be their new international hitter, whereas Japanese pitcher Yuto Kanakubo will fill their Asian quota in 2026.
Beginning in 2026, the Korea Baseball Group (KBO) will enable every of the ten golf equipment to signal both an Asian-born or an Australian-born participant, along with their normal trio of gamers from exterior the continent.
Alcantara, 33, agreed to a one-year deal price as much as $900,000 — with $700,000 in wage and as much as $200,000 in incentives. Alcantara joined the Heroes in Might this yr as a midseason alternative and went 8-4 with a 3.27 ERA in 19 appearances.
The Heroes began the 2025 marketing campaign with two international hitters, Yasiel Puig and Ruben Cardenas, and one international pitcher, Kenny Rosenberg — whereas all the opposite groups had two pitchers and one hitter from abroad. Alcantara took Puig’s spot on the Heroes’ roster.
This will probably be Alcantara’s sixth season within the KBO. He beforehand pitched for the KT Wiz (2019) and the Doosan Bears (2020, 2023 and 2024).
Wiles signed for $910,000. The 27-year-old American made his main league debut with the Atlanta Braves this yr however logged only one inning in a single sport, during which he was charged with three earned runs on 4 hits.
In Triple-A within the Braves system this yr, Wiles went 6-8 with a 3.04 ERA in 25 appearances, together with 19 begins. He has a four-pitch combine with a four-seam fastball, cutter, changeup and slider. With a profession minor league stroll fee of two.1 per 9 innings, the Heroes stated Wiles will present stability alongside Alcantara on the prime of their rotation.
Brooks will earn $700,000 in wage and might make one other $150,000 in incentives. The 30-year-old American, who throws and bats left, has 37 main league video games below his belt, principally lately enjoying in 25 video games for the San Diego Padres in 2025.
He solely batted .146 with one dwelling run this yr within the bigs however put up a strong .275/.388/.491 line with 15 dwelling runs and 68 RBIs in 90 video games in Triple-A within the Padres system.
The Heroes stated Brooks can play first base and all three outfield positions. They described him as a hitter with good plate self-discipline and hole energy.
Kanakubo signed for $100,000 in wage and $30,000 in incentives. The proper-hander had been with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows in Japan’s Nippon Skilled Baseball since 2020, posting a 4.31 ERA and a 5-4 report in 34 appearances.
The 26-year-old can attain 154 kph along with his four-seam fastball, the Heroes stated, and his expertise in each beginning and pitching out of the bullpen will add versatility to their workers subsequent yr.
The Heroes have completed final within the standings in every of the previous three seasons.
