The LG Twins, who have declared a dynasty challenge after winning their first regular season title and Korean Series title in 29 years, have quickly finalized their foreign roster.
The team officially announced on Thursday that it has signed new foreign pitcher Dietrich Arthur Enns to a contract totaling $1 million ($300,000 signing bonus, $600,000 annual salary, $100,000 incentive).
Enns, a U.S. citizen born in 1991, is a left-handed pitcher who stands at 6-foot-2, 185 pounds. He was selected by the New York Yankees in the 2012 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, and later played for the Minnesota Twins and Tampa Bay Rays.
He went 2-0 with two saves and a 3.40 ERA in 11 games in the major leagues and 32-24 with a 4.26 ERA in 85 games at Triple-A in the minors. He then moved to the Seibu Lions of Nippon Professional Baseball in 2022, where he appeared in 35 games over two years, going 11-17 with a 3.62 ERA.
LG had previously re-signed existing foreign players Casey Kelly (35) and Austin Dean (30), leaving only one pitching spot open. The team re-signed Austin for a total of $1.3 million ($300,000 signing bonus, $800,000 salary, $200,000 incentive) on March 17, and Kelly for six years at a total of $1.5 million ($400,000 signing bonus, $800,000 salary, $300,000 incentive) on March 23.
Austin was the first foreign player to put his stamp on the KBO this season, but he quickly won the hearts of fans with his passionate play and dedication to the team. In 139 games, Austin batted .313 with 163 hits (4th), 23 home runs (3rd), and 95 RBIs (3rd), becoming the first foreign player in LG's history to win a Golden Glove.
Upon announcing the re-signing, LG President Cha Myung-seok said, "Austin clearly demonstrated his role in helping LG achieve a unified championship this year. He is an essential player for our team. He is a great player not only with his skills but also with his character," said Cha. "We expect him to continue to perform well next year as he gains experience and adapts to the KBO."
Kelly, who joined LG in 2019, will remain with the team through the 2024 season, becoming the organization's longest-serving foreign pitcher with six seasons under his belt. 온라인카지노
Over the past five years, he has compiled a 68-38 record with a 3.08 ERA and 684 strikeouts in 144 regular-season games, including a 10-7 record with a 3.83 ERA and 129 strikeouts in 30 games and 178⅔ innings this year, helping LG win the regular-season title.
Over the past five years, he has compiled a 68-38 record with a 3.08 ERA and 684 strikeouts in 144 regular-season games, including a 10-7 record with a 3.83 ERA and 129 strikeouts in 30 games and 178⅔ innings this year, helping LG win the regular-season title.
Although he was not as good as he was in previous years, the team believed he was good enough to be the second starter. When re-signing Kelly, LG said, "With 68 career KBO wins, Casey Kelly is already a proven player. We are confident that we can share a starting spot with him for the 24th season. She found her form in the second half of last season, so we are looking forward to the 24th season. We look forward to rewarding our fans with consistent performances."
Enns is expected to form a one-two punch with Kelly. "Ens is a durable and consistent pitcher with excellent fastball command and a changeup. With his experience in Nippon Professional Baseball, we expect him to adapt quickly and become our number one starter for the 2024 season."
"I'm excited to be a part of the LG family. I'm looking forward to meeting the coaching staff, teammates, and fans. I'm also looking forward to spending time with my family and experiencing new things in a new place. I will strive to be a good teammate and do my best to help LG win another championship."