Shortstop Kang Jung-ho officially joined Major League Baseball on Friday. He signed a four-year, US$11-million deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates, with an option for a fifth year that would see him earn US$16.5 million in total.
Kang traveled to the U.S. last week to undergo a physical exam, and signed the contract as soon as the results were in.
As a Pirate, he will wear the No. 27 jersey, after wearing No. 16 as a Nexen Hero.
"First of all, I would like to thank the Nexen Heroes for allowing me an opportunity to come to the Major League," said Kang. "I'm very excited. I'm ready to do my best to help the team win."
After signing the contract, Kang flew to Surprise, Arizona to join his former Nexen teammates at their training camp to begin his preparations for next season. He will meet up with his new teammates next month, when the Pirates' spring training begins in Bradenton, Florida.
Kang's contract guarantees him four years in Pittsburgh from 2015 through 2018 for $11 million. In the fifth year, the Pirates have the option of keeping Kang, but are free to release him. If the team exercises its option and keeps him, Kang will be paid $5.5 million in 2019. If it decides to let him go, he will receive a $1 million buyout fee.
Either way, the deal amounts to a significant expense for a smaller club like the Pirates, who also offered a much-higher-than-expected bid of $5 million for Kang, reflecting their high expectations for the Korean player.
Pittsburgh general manager Neal Huntington said the Pirates is prepared to give Kang some time to adjust to American baseball and culture.
"We're looking forward to confirming our belief about his ability at shortstop; he has played some third [base], and we know he can play some second, but right now he'll come in as a complementary player as he adjusts to Major League Baseball and the United States in general," he said.