Baseball: Korean slugger Kang headed to Pittsburgh

Major League Baseball's Pittsburgh Pirates have inked South Korean slugger Kang Jung-Ho to a four-year contract with a club option for the 2019 season.

Kang hit .356 with 36 doubles, 40 home runs and 117 runs-batted-in in 117 games with the Nexen Heroes of the Korean Baseball Organization in 2014.

He led the league in slugging percentage (.739) and OPS (1.198) while ranking second in on-base percentage (.459), home runs and total bases (309).

"First I want to thank the Nexen Heroes for allowing me the challenge of competing at a major league level," Kang said in a statement on Friday.

"I'm very excited and humbled by this opportunity. I look forward to joining a great group of teammates and I am ready to work hard to help the Pirates win any way that I can."

Kang, 27, made all 113 defensive appearances at shortstop in 2014, but has also played third base, second base, catcher and first base.

"We appreciate and respect Kang's accomplishments in Korea and look forward to helping him positively impact our major league team," said Pirates general manager Neal Huntington.

"He will complement our existing club with his offensive ability and defensive versatility. Our focus at the present time is helping him transition to the United States and to the major leagues.

"Our ability to help him with this transition will be key for him to reach his potential as a major league player."

A four-time Gold Glove Award winner and four-time All-Star in the KBO, Kang has produced a .298 batting average, 193 doubles, 139 home runs and 545 RBI in his nine seasons in South Korea. (AFP)