Ex-KBO MVP Yoon Suk-min signs record deal at home after failed U.S. stint

SEOUL, March 6 (Yonhap) -- Former South Korean baseball MVP Yoon Suk-min has signed a record free agent contract with his ex-club here after a failed stint in the United States, officials announced Friday.

The Kia Tigers of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) said they have re-acquired the right-hander on a four-year deal worth 9 billion won (US$8.2 million), the largest contract ever handed out to a free agent.

The 28-year-old has left the Baltimore Orioles, with whom he signed a three-year deal in 2014, and is scheduled to arrive home later Friday. He is reportedly being accompanied by a Tigers official. Baltimore media, including The Baltimore Sun, reported earlier that the O's were trying to finalize a deal to let Yoon walk out of his major league contract.

Yoon, the 2011 MVP in the KBO, never pitched in the majors for the Orioles. He signed his deal in February last year, with the start of spring training just around the corner, and never got into the swing of things with the big league club.

In his lone U.S. season with the O's Triple-A affiliate in Norfolk, Yoon made 23 appearances, 18 of them starts, with a 4-8 record and a 5.74 ERA.

Yoon was not invited to the O's spring training this year.

Preseason in the KBO starts on Saturday. Yoon will be joining a team that has missed the playoffs the past three seasons.

The three-time KBO All-Star has a career record of 73-59 with 44 saves and a 3.19 ERA in 303 appearances. In 1,129 innings, he struck out 949 batters and walked 345. He has been both a starter and a closer in his KBO career.

jeeho@yna.co.kr
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