KT Wiz acquire ex-MLB pitcher Cuevas

SEOUL, Nov. 29 (Yonhap) -- South Korean baseball club KT Wiz announced Thursday they've acquired former major league pitcher William Cuevas.

The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) team signed the 28-year-old Venezuelan right-hander to a one-year deal worth US$670,000, which includes an undisclosed signing bonus.

Cuevas has 13 big league games under his belt, including nine with the Boston Red Sox in 2018. He was 0-2 this year with a 7.41 ERA in those nine games, including one start.

In 10 minor league seasons, Cuevas has gone 58-56 with a 3.74 ERA in 209 appearances, including a 10-7 record and a 3.39 ERA in 23 starts with Boston's Triple-A affiliate in Pawtucket in 2018.

The Wiz said they liked Cuevas' ability to command his fastball and changeup, adding that he should provide an immediate boost to their rotation.

KBO teams are each permitted a maximum two foreign pitchers, and the Wiz, who signed another former big league arm Raul Alcantara on Nov. 19, have replaced both of their American starters from the 2018 season, Dustin Nippert and Ryan Feierabend.

Both had identical records of 8-8, while Nippert had a slightly better ERA at 4.25 to Feierabend's 4.30. Nippert, 37, has pitched in eight seasons here, while Feierabend, 33, has been in the KBO since 2015.

The Wiz will be entering their fifth KBO season. They're already into their third manager, with a veteran coach, Lee Kang-chul, taking the helm starting next season.

They ranked dead last in the 10-team league from 2015 to 2017 and finished in ninth place this year at 59-82-3 (wins-losses-ties).

jeeho@yna.co.kr
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