Won Jong-hyan signs four-year deal with Kiwoom Heroes

Won Jong-hyan, right, poses with Kiwoom Heroes general manager Ko Hyung-wook in a photo released by the Heroes on Saturday. [YONHAP]

The Kiwoom Heroes on Saturday signed free agent pitcher Won Jong-hyan on a four-year deal worth 2.5 billion won ($1.8 million).

Won, formerly of the NC Dinos, will earn 500 million won a year in annual salary with a 500-million-won signing bonus.

Won, who's name is pronounced Jong-hyun, but is spelt Jong-hyan in the official KBO translation, debuted with the Dinos in 2014, eight years after being signed by the LG Twins in 2006. His early career was hampered by an elbow injury, but he gained a second chance when he moved to the Dinos in 2012, ahead of the Changwon club’s launch in 2013.

A prolific bullpen pitcher, Won has taken the mound in 501 games recording 27 wins, 28 losses, 86 holds, 82 saves and a career 4.02 ERA. In 2022 he had a 2.98 ERA over 63 and one third innings pitched with five wins, a save and 13 holds.

In 2015, Won was diagnosed with colon cancer and forced to sit out the season, but fought back and rejoined the Dinos a year later.

Won was the first player to change hands this offseason, with 20 other free agents remaining in the market. He is also the first external free agent to be signed by the Heroes in more than a decade, since Lee Taek-keun joined the club in 2011.

The Heroes expect Won to improve the club’s bullpen, one of the few areas the west Seoul team can identify as a weakness after a second-place finish last season that was bumped up to second place with a solid playoff performance.

BY JIM BULLEY [jim.bulley@joongang.co.kr]