Samsung Lions Sign Austin Both as Temporary Replacement Pitcher

▲ Austin Both in a Samsung uniform

The professional baseball team Samsung Lions has signed right-handed pitcher Austin Both (34) as a temporary replacement for Ariel Jurado, who is currently sidelined due to injury.

The Samsung club announced today (July 20) that they have signed a contract with Both as a replacement foreign player for 150,000 dollars.

Standing 188 cm tall and weighing 97 kg, Both has recorded 17 wins, 20 losses, a 4.84 ERA, and a 1.37 WHIP (walks plus hits per inning pitched) in 210 career Major League Baseball (MLB) appearances.

In Triple-A minor league play, he appeared in 99 games, posting 18 wins, 33 losses, and a 4.22 ERA.

Both is expected to adapt quickly to the league, as he already has experience playing in the Asian baseball circuit.

Last year, he played a full season in the first team for the Chiba Lotte Marines in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), recording 3 wins, 9 losses, a 3.96 ERA, and a 1.25 WHIP over 125 innings.

After returning to the United States this year and spending time with the Chicago Cubs, Toronto Blue Jays, Minnesota Twins, and Texas Rangers, Both boarded a plane to South Korea after receiving a call from Samsung, which was looking for an injury replacement.

Known for his ability to throw a variety of pitches, Both has demonstrated stable pitching throughout his MLB career, averaging 8.4 strikeouts and 3.3 walks per 9 innings.

Having passed his physical examination in Korea, Both is scheduled to join the first-team starting rotation soon.

"Having played in the NPB, I have some understanding of the style of Asian leagues. The KBO League might be slightly different, but I am looking forward to it in many ways," Both said through the club. "I want to deliver good results for the fans."

Meanwhile, Jurado, who had been serving as the ace for Samsung, was diagnosed with shoulder inflammation ahead of the start of the second half of the season and is expected to require 6 weeks for recovery.

(Photo courtesy of Samsung Lions, Yonhap News)

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