Ex-MLB pitcher Kim Kwang-hyun becomes KBO's highest-paid player in 2025

SEOUL, March 5 (Yonhap) -- SSG Landers starting pitcher Kim Kwang-hyun will be the highest-paid player in South Korean baseball this year, the league office announced Wednesday.

The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) released salary data for the upcoming season. It said Kim, who pitched for the St. Louis Cardinals from 2020 to 2021, will earn 3 billion won (US$2.06 million) this season.

The Landers also led all 10 teams with the total payroll with 11.7 billion won and the average salary with 221.2 million won.

Kim made 1 billion won last season, when another former big league hurler, Ryu Hyun-jin of the Hanwha Eagles, was the highest-paid player with a 2.5 billion won salary.

This year, Ryu is tied for second place with 2 billion won, joined by Samsung Lions outfielder Koo Ja-wook and KT Wiz pitcher Ko Young-pyo.

Kim Do-yeong of the Kia Tigers, the 2024 regular-season MVP, enjoyed the biggest rate of annual salary increase, as his wage jumped from 100 million won to 500 million won.

His 400 percent annual increase is the largest in Tigers history and the third-largest ever in the KBO, excluding free agent deals or multiyear extensions.

In the KBO, players sign one-year contracts before becoming eligible for free agency after eight full seasons in the books. Kim is entering his fourth season.

Doosan Bears closer Kim Taek-yeon, the 2024 Rookie of the Year, will make 140 million won this season, tied for the biggest salary for a second-year player in league history.

Among foreign players, KT Wiz outfielder Mel Rojas Jr. is the top earner with a salary of $1.8 million.

The KBO said the average annual salary, excluding those for foreign players and rookies making the league minimum, came to a record 160.7 million won, up from 154.9 million won from 2024.

jeeho@yna.co.kr
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