NC Dinos Sign New Foreign Pitcher Curtis Taylor for 2026 Season: "I Will Help Win the KBO Championship"

NC Dinos have signed Curtis Taylor (30) as their new foreign ace for the 2026 season.

On December 11, NC announced that they had signed Taylor to a contract worth a total of $900,000 (including a $280,000 signing bonus, $420,000 in annual salary, and $200,000 in incentives).

Taylor, who hails from Port Coquitlam, Canada, is a tall right-handed pitcher at 198 cm and 106 kg. He features a fastball that tops out at 154 km/h (averaging 151-152 km/h) and possesses a diverse arsenal of pitches, including a sweeper, cutter, sinker, and changeup.

He is recognized for his pitching style, which combines a powerful fastball with solid control.

Selected in the fourth round of the 2016 draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks, Taylor began his professional career and went on to appear in 213 games (44 as a starter) over eight seasons in the minor leagues, recording 26 wins, 25 losses, and an ERA of 3.48.

In the 2025 season, he played for the Triple-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals, making 31 appearances (24 as a starter) and pitching 137.1 innings, finishing with 10 wins, 4 losses, and an ERA of 3.21, demonstrating a stable season.

Lim Seonnam, General Manager of NC, stated, "Taylor is a pitcher with excellent physical attributes and a fastball in the 150 km/h range, complemented by a variety of breaking balls. He can overpower hitters with his strength and also induce ground balls, making him highly versatile. We expect him to play a key role on the NC mound in the 2026 season."

Curtis Taylor with an ace card. Photo by NC Dinos.

Taylor also shared his thoughts on joining the team.

He said, "I am truly delighted to join NC Dinos. I am very excited about the opportunity to play baseball in a new country and experience Korean culture. I look forward to competing in the KBO, a highly competitive league."

He also expressed his understanding of Korea and the KBO League. "Growing up in Vancouver’s multicultural environment, I am familiar with Korean food, movies, and fashion. I especially enjoy the works of director Bong Joon-ho," he said.

He continued, "Facing players like Kim Hyesung and Kim Ha-seong gave me a sense of the KBO’s talent level. Other foreign players around me have spoken highly of their KBO experiences, so I have been looking forward to this challenge."

Regarding his goals for the new season, he stated, "As a team, my goal is to win the Korean Series, and personally, I aim to win the KBO Golden Glove. I know that Kyle Hart and Erick Fedde have won this award, and I want to continue that legacy."

Finally, to the fans, he said, "I’ve heard about the incredible energy of the fans in Changwon. I look forward to the day I can pitch in front of you. I am confident that we will bring the championship to the Dinos in the 2026 season."

Taylor is scheduled to join the team at spring training in Arizona, USA.