Defending KBO champions Wiz sign new outfielder Alford

All News 14:07 May 26, 2022

By Yoo Jee-ho

SEOUL, May 26 (Yonhap) -- The defending South Korean baseball champions KT Wiz announced Thursday they have signed a new outfielder, Anthony Alford.

The Wiz acquired the former major league outfielder for US$577,000 for the rest of this season, replacing injured outfielder Henry Ramos.

Anthony Alford, new outfielder for the KT Wiz, poses after signing a deal with the Korea Baseball Organization club, in this photo provided by the Wiz on May 26, 2022. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

Alford, 27, has 102 major league games to his credit and most recently appeared in two games with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He signed with the Cleveland Guardians earlier this month as a free agent but played in only eight minor league games for the organization before deciding to take his talent to the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO).

Alford was a third-round draft pick by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2012 and played 46 games for the Blue Jays from 2017 to 2020.

Alford batted .209/.275/.368 with eight home runs, 20 RBIs and 11 steals in the majors.

He put up a .259/.346/.425 line in 251 games in Triple-A, along with 30 home runs, 116 RBIs and 50 steals.

"Alford has raw power, and he is capable of generating hard contact," the Wiz's general manager Na Do-hyun said. "He also has a great throwing arm, and he can put pressure on opposing defense with his speed on base paths."

Alford will become the fourth member of the 2019 Blue Jays to play in the KBO this year, joining Hanwha Eagles pitcher Nick Kingham, SSG Landers starter Wilmer Font and Kia Tigers outfielder Socrates Brito.

In this Getty Images file photo from Sept. 28, 2021, Anthony Alford of the Pittsburgh Pirates (R) celebrates with teammates Kevin Newman (C) and Cole Tucker after an 8-6 victory over the Chicago Cubs in a Major League Baseball regular season game at PNC Park in Pittsburgh. (Yonhap)

The Wiz have parted ways with Ramos after just 18 games, over which he batted .250 with three home runs and 11 RBIs. He hasn't played since April 23, when he took a pitch off his right foot and suffered a broken right pinky toe.

The Wiz had earlier cut right-handed pitcher William Cuevas. He and Ramos are so far the only two foreign players to be released this year.

KBO teams can each sign a maximum three foreign players and no more than two pitchers.

Through Wednesday's action, the Wiz, which won their first Korean Series title in 2021, were stuck in eighth place among 10 clubs at 20-25.