Lions bring back slugger Diaz, starter Jurado

The Samsung Lions announced Tuesday they will bring back first baseman Lewin Diaz and starting pitcher Ariel Jurado for the 2026 season. The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) club said Diaz re-signed for up to $1.6 million. He received a signing bonus of $200,000, and his salary will be $1.3 million. He can make another $100,000 in incentives. Jurado inked a new deal worth up to $1.7 million — $1.3 million in salary, $300,000 in signing bonus and $100,000 in incentives. Diaz joined the Lions in the middle of the 2024 season and will now return for his second full season. In 2025, Diaz set a KBO record with 158 RBIs, and his league-high 50 home runs were the most ever hit by a foreign player in a season. Diaz also led the league with a .644 slugging percentage and an on-base plus slugging of 1.025, while nabbing his first KBO Fielding Award at first base. He was the runner-up to Hanwha Eagles pitcher Cody Ponce in the regular-season MVP voting. Jurado signed with the Lions before the 2025 season, following two years with another KBO club, the Kiwoom Heroes. The workhorse from Panama ledWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times