Kia Tigers infielder Park Chan-ho (29), who hit a triple in his debut, has been rewarded by the team.
The Kia Motors League announced on Friday that it has finalized contracts with 46 players for the 2024 season. Of the re-signings, 24 players received raises, nine were frozen, and 13 were cut.
Park Chan-ho re-signed for 300 million won, a 50% increase from 200 million won. This makes him the highest-paid non-FA re-signee (excluding foreign players) on the team. Park, who joined the team in 2014, appeared in 130 games last year in his 10th year and achieved his first triple-digit batting average (.301) in his professional career.
Another “three-hitter,” Kim Do-young, signed for 100 million won, a 100% increase from 50 million won. In his second year in the league, Kim hit .303 (103-for-340) with seven home runs, 47 RBIs and 25 stolen bases in 84 games last season, marking his first triple-digit batting average and 100 hits.
Byun Woo-hyuk, who was acquired via trade from the Hanwha Eagles, was stamped at 60 million won, up 25 million won (71.4%) from 35 million won.
‘Reserve free agent’ pitcher Lim Ki-young re-signed for 250 million won, up 66.7% from 150 million won. Left-handed pitcher Choi Ji-min, who has become a staple in the rotation, received a 233% increase from 30 million won to 100 million won, the highest increase in the team. 2023 rookie Yoon Young-chul re-signed for 90 million won, a 200% increase from 30 million won.
Outfielder Lee Woo-sung signed for 130 million won, up 136% from 55 million won, and catcher Han Jun-soo re-signed for 50 million won, up 19 million won (61.3%) from 31 million won.
Lee Woo-sung became the first player to earn a billion-dollar salary after his professional debut, while Kim Do-young and Choi Ji-min joined the billion-dollar club in their third year.