Infielder Shay Whitcomb (27), who played for the South Korean national baseball team at the World Baseball Classic (WBC) last March, is donning the uniform of the Major League Baseball (MLB) club San Francisco Giants.

The San Francisco club announced today (the 14th) that it has acquired Whitcomb, who was designated for assignment by the Houston Astros, via a waiver claim.

To clear a 40-man roster spot for Whitcomb, San Francisco moved pitcher Trevor McDonald to the 60-day injured list (IL), and Whitcomb initially joined Triple-A Sacramento River Cats.

Whitcomb is a familiar face to domestic baseball fans, having worn the Taegeuk mark at the 2026 WBC due to his heritage through his Korean mother.

During the tournament, he posted a batting average of 0.214 (3-for-14), showcasing his power by belting two home runs among his three hits.

Drafted by Houston in the fifth round of the 2020 rookie draft, Whitcomb has been regarded as a prospect equipped with speed and power.

However, he struggled with hitting accuracy on the big league stage, batting a career 0.167 with three home runs and 11 RBIs over 102 MLB plate appearances.

This season, he was limited to a 0.130 batting average with two home runs in 17 games, eventually leading to his designation for assignment by Houston on the 11th.

The San Francisco club reportedly decided to recruit Whitcomb by focusing on his versatile defensive capabilities.

Whitcomb played every position except pitcher and catcher in the minor leagues this season, also proving his mobility with 23 stolen bases in the minors.

With San Francisco facing gaps in its infield due to injuries to key infielders like Matt Chapman, the team is expected to call Whitcomb up to the big leagues to utilize him as an all-around infielder once he finishes adapting in Triple-A.

When Whitcomb returns to the big leagues, he will reunite with Lee Jung-hoo, with whom he played together on the WBC national team.

(Photo: Yonhap News)