Puig joins KBO's Kiwoom Heroes on 1-year, $1M deal
The Wild Horse is riding off to Korea.
Former All-Star outfielder Yasiel Puig has agreed to a one-year, $1-million contract with the Kiwoom Heroes of the Korea Baseball Organization, the team announced Wednesday, according to Jeeho Yoo of Yonhap News.
Puig will earn the maximum salary allowed for a first-year foreign player in the KBO, according to Yoo.
Puig hasn't appeared in the majors since 2019 when he split the season between the Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland. He reportedly agreed to a contract with the Atlanta Braves in July 2020, but that deal fell through after he tested positive for COVID-19.
The 31-year-old didn't receive any big-league offers last offseason and eventually signed with Veracruz of the Mexican League. He hit .312/.409/.517 with 10 homers, 43 RBIs, and eight stolen bases in 62 games as Veracruz earned a third-place finish.
Puig made his name in the majors with the Los Angeles Dodgers, exploding into stardom as an electrifying rookie in 2013 and earning an All-Star berth in 2014. He hit .277/.348/.475 with 132 homers, 415 RBIs, and 79 stolen bases over parts of seven MLB seasons.
The Heroes, who play in Seoul, finished fifth in the 10-team KBO this season and lost the wild-card series to the Doosan Bears.