I can't believe I signed a contract so quickly…KIA, which beat ML to hold nails, has increased its chances of winning for the second consecutive year
I can't believe I signed a contract so quickly…KIA, which beat ML to hold nails, has increased its chances of winning for the second consecutive year
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The KIA Tigers of the Korea Baseball Organization succeeded in protecting James Nail, a 31-year-old foreign pitcher. Although the team had a major league offer, it sat down earlier than expected, giving a green light to its second consecutive victory.
Kia announced on the 27th that it renewed its contract with Nail for a total of 1.8 million dollars. It is a big contract with a down payment of 400,000 dollars, an annual salary of 1.2 million dollars and an option of 200,000 dollars, with a guaranteed amount of 1.6 million dollars alone. He is the highest treatment among foreign players who have been signed in 2025 along with SSG outfielder Guillermo Herredia. Nail's ransom, which received a total of 700,000 dollars (down payment of 200,000 dollars, annual salary of 350,000 dollars, and option of 150,000 dollars) jumped more than 2.5 times, excluding 250,000 dollars delivered to St. Louis Cardinals when signing a contract with Kia in January this year.온라인바카라
Nail played 149 ⅓ innings in 26 games, posting 12 wins and 5 losses with 2.58 strikeouts. With a combination of two-seam fastballs and sweeper, she became No. 1 in ERA. With major starters including Will Crow, Lee Eui-ri and Yoon Young-chul continuously injured, Nail led the starting lineup with Yang Hyun-jong and one-two punch.
His cheerful personality suited him well with the squad. He also had an amazing walk ceremony. On August 24, his nail was hit by a hard hit and his jawbone was broken at the match against Changwon NC. He was able to end the season as he underwent Tommy John surgery, but he did not give up on his nails. He devoted himself to treatment and recovery for the Korean Series, and kept his promise to return in the fall. As a starter in the first and fourth games of the Korean Series, he contributed to the overall championship by pitching well with one win and an earned run average of 2.53.
Nail, who served as the best foreign pitcher in the KBO League this year along with Kyle Hart of the NC Dinosaurs, also attracted attention from the U.S. Major League. While there were offers, Nail remained at Kia, which showed sincerity by offering 1.8 million dollars, an increase of 1.1 million dollars. The team could have engaged in a tug-of-war while waiting for more offers until the Major League's winter meeting scheduled on Sept. 9-13, but it didn't last long. As Nail signed her contract earlier than expected, she also showed her sincerity toward Kia.
After renewing the contract, Nail said, "I was able to pitch again on the mound thanks to the support of the club and the support of the fans who showed me during my long rehabilitation due to an unexpected injury. I am always grateful to the fans for their support, and I am happy to be able to accompany KIA next year," adding, "I am grateful to the club for making good suggestions during the offseason, and I want to build up my body well during the offseason and lift the Korean Series trophy with my teammates next year."
Kia has renewed its contract with Nail, which was the biggest challenge of the offseason, and will be able to maintain its winning capacity next year. Though Jang Hyun-sik, a must-win team for the bullpen, has moved to LG as an FA, it is a position where it can handle the situation more easily than other positions. Young pitchers such as Choi Ji-min, Kim Ki-hoon and Yoo Seung-cheol are in the bullpen. Considering that one of Kim Do-hyun and Hwang Dong-ha, who are set to compete for the fifth starting pitcher, will join the bullpen, it has ample substitute resources.
Unlike the bullpen, a single starting position, especially the first starting pitcher, cannot be easily replaced. Kia has maintained its most important capacity by retaining nail polish. As the starting pitcher rotation has increased close to full-time this year, expectations are high for next year as it has increased its physical stamina.
The KBO League has not had a winning team in a row since Doosan in 2015-2016. Many teams have lost two consecutive games due to the outflow of foreign aces. Merrill Kelly from SK, the 2018 winner, and Josh Lindblom from Doosan, the 2019 winner, failed to fill the gap as they advanced to the U.S. Major League. KT, the 2021 winner, suffered from William Cuevas being out early in the following season due to an elbow injury. SSG, the 2022 winner, also realized the absence of Wilmer Font as the first starter due to his departure to the U.S.
KIA will be able to continue its winning capacity next year if it fills the remaining positions of foreign pitchers and hitters. Veteran players including Choi Hyung-woo, Yang Hyun-jong, Na Sung-bum, Kim Sun-bin and Kim Tae-gun have aged one year, but young players are on the rise, led by Kim Do-young, who entered his heyday. Other teams are also keen to strengthen their capabilities, but only LG has recruited Jang Hyun-sik and brought Yoni Chirinos, a 20-game winning pitcher in the Major League.