Second Longest 8-Year Contract Ever
Active Career Until Age 44
'Korean Monster' Ryu Hyun-jin returns to the KBO League with the highest-ever contract worth 17 billion KRW over 8 years.
'Korean Monster' Ryu Hyun-jin (right) has worn the Hanwha Eagles uniform again after 12 years. [Image source=Hanwha Eagles]
On the 22nd, the Hanwha Eagles announced that they signed Ryu Hyun-jin to an 8-year contract worth a total of 17 billion KRW (including opt-out clauses; detailed opt-out terms are confidential by mutual agreement). This is the largest contract in KBO League history. After the last season, Ryu Hyun-jin, who became a free agent in Major League Baseball, considered staying in MLB or returning to Korea, and ultimately chose to return domestically. He returns to Hanwha after 12 years since 2012. To complete the entire contract period, Ryu Hyun-jin will have to play actively for Hanwha until he is 44 years old, and if he remains active through the 2031 season, he could break the KBO League's oldest player appearance record (43 years, 7 months, 7 days) set by manager Song Jin-woo in 2009.
Ryu Hyun-jin expressed, "I am grateful to the team for allowing me to return with the best treatment in the KBO League. Hanwha is the team that made me who I am today. Since my move to the Major Leagues, I always thought I would return to Hanwha to give back, and I watched Hanwha every year from the U.S., dreaming of the day I would join them. Now, I am happy to keep that promise." He continued, "With strengthened roster and the growth of young players, I believe our team has the capability to achieve good results. I will work hard with my teammates to show the fans as much baseball as possible this season." Additionally, Hanwha and the Ryu Hyun-jin Foundation signed an MOU to jointly carry out social contribution activities such as youth baseball development.
Ryu Hyun-jin debuted in 2006 with Hanwha, immediately recording 18 wins, 6 losses, 1 save, 204 strikeouts, and a 2.23 ERA, earning both Rookie of the Year and MVP awards. Until 2012, he established himself as the best pitcher in Korea with a career record of 98 wins, 52 losses, 1 save, 1,238 strikeouts, and a 2.80 ERA. From 2013, he moved to Major League Baseball, where until last year he recorded 78 wins, 48 losses, 1 save, 934 strikeouts, and a 3.27 ERA, proving himself as a top-level starting pitcher on the world’s biggest stage. Notably, in 2019, as a member of the LA Dodgers, he had his best season with 14 wins, 5 losses, 163 strikeouts, and a 2.32 ERA, finishing second in the National League Cy Young Award voting.
Meanwhile, the previous largest contract by total amount was catcher Yang Eui-ji (37), who transferred from NC to Doosan last season with a 4+2 year contract worth 15.2 billion KRW.
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