After losing MVP Eric Peddy to free agency, the NC Dinos have signed two foreign pitchers. Both are lefties.
The Dinos announced the signing of Kyle Hart (31) as their newest foreign pitcher. He signed a $200,000 signing bonus, a $500,000 salary, and a $200,000 option for a total of $900,000.
Hart, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, is a 6-foot-2, 196-pound left-hander who throws a fastball up to 90 mph and a cutter, two-seam, and changeup. He’s not a strong reliever, but he has a wide variety of pitches that can get him through an inning.
He doesn’t have a storied major league career, going 1-0 with a 15.55 ERA in four games (three starts, 11 innings) for the Boston Red Sox in 2020. 바카라사이트 In four seasons at Triple-A, he went 24-24 with a 4.36 ERA and 288 strikeouts in 69 games.
This year, he was 4-6 with a 4.53 ERA and 86 strikeouts in 19 game at Triple-A.
Although he underwent Tommy John surgery in college, he is considered a stable type in that he has had a steady career without major injuries since entering the pros.
“Hart has a lot of experience on the mound, is good at psychological warfare with hitters, and has an efficient pitching style,” said NC manager Lim Sun-nam. Together with Castano, he will be a left-handed starting duo that will provide a solid foundation for our pitching staff in the 2024 season.”
Prior to Hart, NC signed left-hander Daniel Castano, 29, as a new foreign pitcher on March 13 for a total of $850,000 ($130,000 signing bonus, $520,000 annual salary, $200,000 option). At the time, general manager Lim Sun-nam said, “Castano is a player we have been watching for a long time. He is a left-hander with strong fastball command and excellent game management skills. I think he will add to the depth of our starting staff.”
Castano, a 6-foot-4, 190-pound left-hander from Orlando, Florida, has a 148-152 mph fastball, cutter, two-seam fastball, slider, and changeup. He has more velocity and command than Hart and has a little more major league experience.
After debuting with the Miami Marlins in 2020, he went 2-7 with a 4.47 ERA and 49 strikeouts in 24 games (17 starts and 88⅔ innings) in four major league seasons. This year, he made just two big league appearances and was 5-2 with a 4.67 ERA and 58 strikeouts in 17 games (9 starts-61⅔ innings) at Triple-A.
His overall profile is a good fit for the KBO, but he is an injury risk.
He was sidelined with a shoulder injury for the second straight year in 2021 and 2022. He also suffered a concussion on July 29, 2022 against the Cincinnati Reds when he was hit in the forehead by a pitch from an opposing batter. This year, he spent two months on the disabled list in the minors in mid-April. Selecting Hart, who has had little injury history since entering the pros, as Castano’s partner seems like a risky move. 안전놀이터 추천
It’s also notable that both foreign pitchers are lefties. NC lost its homegrown ace, left-hander Koo Chang-mo, to a series of injuries and enlisted in the military on April 18. Aside from Choi Sung-young, the remaining domestic starters are right-handed, including Shin Min-hyuk, Song Myung-ki, Lee Yong-joon, and Lee Jae-hak, so the team needed more left-handed options.
Castano and Hart are expected to balance the left and right sides of the NC starting lineup.
Meanwhile, Hart said, “I am honored to be offered the opportunity to pitch for NC, which I know to be a very good team in the KBO. I am very excited and grateful to be able to meet the fans on the mound at Changwon NC Park,” said Hart. “As a good team player, I want to help my teammates win the Korean Series. Outside of baseball, as a family man, I want to experience the passionate fans and the beauty of Changwon with my family.”
Castano, who signed earlier, said, “I’m honored to join the NC, and I’m happy to get a new opportunity.” “I’ve heard a lot of good things about the NC from my friends who played in the KBO. I’ve always wanted to play in the KBO when I get the chance. Personally, I have two goals. The first is to pitch to the best of my ability on the mound, and the second is to help the team win.”