A trio of former MLB players have inked new deals to continue their careers in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), providing some major talent for the league’s 2025 season.
Guillermo Heredia Back with SSG Landers
Outfielder Guillermo Heredia is set to return for his third season with the SSG Landers after re-signing on a $1.6 million deal that includes an additional $200K in incentives (as reported by Dan Kurtz of MyKBO.net). The Cuban-born outfielder has been a star in the KBO, putting up a sensational .360/.399/.538 batting line in 2024 with 21 homers and 31 doubles. Over two seasons in Korea, Heredia has a cumulative slash line of .343/.393/.502, a major uptick from his time in MLB, where he was mainly utilized as a depth outfielder for five teams, most recently the Atlanta Braves in 2022. With this deal, the SSG Landers have locked in their trio of foreign players for the upcoming season, which also includes Mitch White and Drew Anderson, who re-signed earlier this month.
James Naile Stays with Kia Tigers
The Kia Tigers have also secured a key member of their pitching staff, re-signing right-hander James Naile on a $1.6 million contract, with an additional $200K available in incentives, according to Jeeho Yoo of Yonhap News. Naile, who’s preparing for his second season in the KBO, shined in his first year, capturing the league’s ERA title with a stellar 2.53 mark across 149 1/3 innings. His standout performance played a crucial role in the Tigers’ successful Korean Series title run. Naile did have a brief scare late in the season when he was struck in the jaw by a comebacker, but he managed to make a timely recovery and contribute during the championship series. Originally a 20th-round MLB draft pick out of UAB, Naile made 17 appearances for the St. Louis Cardinals between 2022 and 2023 before heading to Korea. The Tigers have also signed righty Adam Oller earlier this offseason, but it remains to be seen if they’ll bring back outfielder Socrates Brito, who has spent the past three seasons with Kia, coming off a solid .310/.359/.516 campaign.
Victor Reyes Returns to Lotte Giants
Outfielder Victor Reyes will also be continuing his career in Korea, signing a $1 million contract with the Lotte Giants, which includes $250K in incentives (per Kurtz). Reyes put up impressive numbers in his debut KBO season, slashing .352/.394/.511 with 40 doubles and 15 home runs for Lotte. The switch-hitting center fielder, who is now 30, previously played five seasons in MLB with the Detroit Tigers, accumulating a .264/.294/.379 batting line across nearly 400 games between 2018 and 2022. The Giants have two remaining spots available for foreign players, both of which are expected to be used on pitchers. Charlie Barnes and Aaron Wilkerson held those roles in 2024, but it’s not yet clear if either of them will be returning to the Giants next season.
KBO Teams Bolster Rosters with Familiar Faces
The re-signings of Heredia, Naile, and Reyes reflect the commitment of KBO teams to bring back proven talent that has already made an impact in the league. With each player coming off a successful season, their respective clubs will hope to carry forward that momentum into 2025. The SSG Landers, Kia Tigers, and Lotte Giants are all aiming for another strong season, and retaining these key players is a positive step in that direction as the KBO looks to continue showcasing exciting international talent.