Pitcher Yang Hyeon-jong may join Yokohama DeNA

Japanese media reported that Free Agent (FA) pitcher Yang Hyeon-jong (aged 28, photo) joined Yokohama DeNA.

According to Japanese sports newspaper Daily Sports on Friday, DeNA acquired South Korea’s best left-handed pitcher Yang Hyeon-jong. Daily Sports said that Yang was a natural born left handed pitcher whose fastball speed stands at 152km/h and ranked no. 1 in ERA of the 2015 KBO league. The newspaper also said Yang recorded 2-digit wins for three years in a row and won a total of 87 games so far. However, the news did not mention detailed contract terms and salaries.

It is certain that signing a contract is the win-win game for the two sides. Yang strongly intends to run in the Japanese league. DeNA also needs ace players as its starter Yamaguchi Shun was transferred to Yomiuri after declaring himself a free agent. DeNA has sufficient number of left-handed starting pitcher including Kenta Ishida, Imanaga Shota, Sunada Yoshiki, Hamaguchi Harushiro. Daily Sports predicted that DeNA could build a kingdom of left-handed pitchers as Yang joins the team.

However, it was not confirmed that Yang officially signed on the contract and DeNA did not make an official announcement as well. An agent who operates in Japan said, “The two sides are greatly interested in each other but the problem is money. The deal will be determined by how much money DeNa will offer to Yang.”

DeNA, a long time lower ranking team of the Central League, successfully advanced in the postseason as No. 3 in this regular season when Alex Ramirez joined as the team coach. He was a colleague Japanese media reported that Free Agent (FA) pitcher Yang Hyeon-jong (aged 28, photo) joined Yokohama DeNA.

According to Japanese sports newspaper Daily Sports on Friday, DeNA acquired South Korea’s best left-handed pitcher Yang Hyeon-jong. Daily Sports said that Yang was a natural born left handed pitcher whose fastball speed stands at 152km/h and ranked no. 1 in ERA of the 2015 KBO league. The newspaper also said Yang recorded 2-digit wins for three years in a row and won a total of 87 games so far. However, the news did not mention detailed contract terms and salaries.

It is certain that signing a contract is the win-win game for the two sides. Yang strongly intends to run in the Japanese league. DeNA also needs ace players as its starter Yamaguchi Shun was transferred to Yomiuri after declaring himself a free agent. DeNA has sufficient number of left-handed starting pitcher including Kenta Ishida, Imanaga Shota, Sunada Yoshiki, Hamaguchi Harushiro. Daily Sports predicted that DeNA could build a kingdom of left-handed pitchers as Yang joins the team.

However, it was not confirmed that Yang officially signed on the contract and DeNA did not make an official announcement as well. An agent who operates in Japan said, “The two sides are greatly interested in each other but the problem is money. The deal will be determined by how much money DeNa will offer to Yang.”

DeNA, a long time lower ranking team of the Central League, successfully advanced in the postseason as No. 3 in this regular season when Alex Ramirez joined as the team coach. He was a colleague Lee Seung-yuop of Samsung when he played in Yomiuri.

Heon-Jae Lee uni@donga.com