Will Aaron Wilkerson, the new foreign pitcher메이저사이트 of the Lotte Giants, erase the nightmare of ‘Fireman’ Glenn Sparkman?
On the 18th, Lotte recruited Wilkerson, who played for Japan’s Hanshin Tigers last year, as a substitute for Dan Strayley. The terms of the contract are a total of $350,000 including an annual salary of $250,000 and an option of $100,000.
Right-hander Wilkerson pitched in 14 major league games with an excellent physique of 188 cm tall and weighed 104 kg. In the minor league stage, he took the mound 158 times and recorded 58 wins and 31 losses with an ERA of 3.42. He played 14 games in the Hanshin uniform last year, recording 5 wins and 5 losses with an ERA of 4.08.
Lotte predicted that Wilkerson would quickly adapt to the domestic stage based on his fastball movement and breaking ball control as well as his experience playing in Japan.
Wilkerson, who became a new member of Lotte, said, “I am grateful to the club for giving me a chance to take on a new challenge in the KBO League. He is very proud and happy to be a member of the league’s most popular team, the Lotte Giants.”
He continued, “Because he has adapted well to Asian culture through his experience in the Japanese professional league, he is also looking forward to his career in Korean professional baseball. He added that he will help win many matches to contribute to the team’s victory.
Wilkerson will enter Korea on the 19th and go through necessary administrative procedures and conditioning before finalizing his starting schedule.
Lotte recruited Glenn Sparkman, who played in Japan last year, but failed.
Sparkman, who played for Japan’s Orix Buffaloes in 2021, earned the nickname ‘Fireman’ and was expected to achieve a foreign one-two punch with Charlie Barnes.
However, Sparkman was kicked out midway through injury and sluggishness, leaving a poor record of 2 wins, 4 losses and an average ERA of 5.31 in 19 games.
Lotte released foreign hitter Rex in July and recruited Nico Goodrum. Then, Strayley was released and Wilkerson was selected.
Lotte used all the foreign player substitution cards (2 players) and increased the number of wins in the second half. It remains to be seen if Wilkerson, the ‘new family member’, can erase Sparkman’s nightmare and become a new power.