South Korean baseball club KT Wiz said Tuesday they have signed American hitter Mel Rojas Jr. for a second season.
The Korea Baseball Organization club said the new deal is worth $1 million.
Rojas, 27, joined the Wiz in June on a $400,000 deal, replacing slumping Johnny Monell. In 83 games, Rojas batted .301 with 18 home runs, 56 RBIs and five steals.
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In this file photo taken Sept. 27, 2017, Mel Rojas Jr. of the KT Wiz picks up a base hit against the Doosan Bears in the bottom of the first inning of their Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at KT Wiz Park in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province. (Yonhap) |
A third round draft pick by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2010, Rojas doesn't have any major league experience. He spent eight years in the minor leagues, with 46 home runs, 325 RBIs and 94 steals in 837 games, before coming over to the KBO.
The Wiz thanked Rojas for putting his pursuit of a big league job on hold to play for the Wiz again. They praised the switch-hitting outfielder for making a quick adjustment to the new league and addressing the team's glaring needs both in offense and outfield defense.
The 27-year-old is the son of former major league pitcher Mel Rojas. The younger Rojas was born in Indianapolis but chose to play for the Dominican Republic, his father's native country, at this year's World Baseball Classic. (Yonhap)
