Kia Tigers sign outfielder Socrates Brito, right-hander Ronnie Williams

Baseball

Published: 27 Dec. 2021, 18:14

Kia Tigers sign outfielder Socrates Brito, right-hander Ronnie Williams

Socrates Brito, right, poses for a photo after signing a one-year contract with the KBO club KIA Tigers on Monday. [YONHAP]

The Kia Tigers announced Monday that they have acquired former major league outfielder Socrates Brito and career minor league right-hander Ronnie Williams, signing both for one-year contracts.

Brito will earn $900,000, $500,000 in salary, $100,000 in signing bonus and up to $300,000 in incentives.

The 29-year-old from the Dominican Republic made his major league debut with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2015 and has made 99 appearances in the Major leagues, most recently in 2019 with the Toronto Blue Jays.

In 2018 and 2019, Brito was the fastest base running major league right fielder. His spring speed was 29.9 feet per second in 2018 and 29.8 feet per second the next year.

He became a free agent after the 2019 season and signed a minor league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates. After opting out of the 2020 season, he again became a free agent in 2020.

This January, he signed a minor league contract with the New York Yankees and spent the season with the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders where he hit .251 in 107 games with nine home runs and 53 RBIs.

Ronnie Williams poses for a photo after signing a one-year contract with the KIA Tigers on Monday/ [YONHAP]

Williams, a 25-year-old right-handed pitcher from the United States, will earn $750,000, $300,000 in salary, $100,000 in signing bonus and up to $350,000 in incentives.

In 2014, Williams was drafted in the St. Louis Cardinals organization as a second-round pick where he spent his first six years. In 2020, the Sacramento River Cats claimed Williams off waivers from Springfield Cardinals and this year, Williams is coming from playing for the Richmond Flying Squirrels.

Across 152 minor league appearances, Williams has 24 wins and 29 losses with a 4.24 ERA.

Brito and Williams join major league returnee Yang Hyeon-jong who rejoined the Tigers on a four-year-deal worth 10.3 billion won ($8.7 million) on Friday.

BY YUN SO-HYANG [yun.sohyang@joongang.co.kr]