Raul Alcantara (33) of the professional baseball team Kiwoom Heroes is set to make his return to the KBO League as early as next Friday (30th).
Kiwoom manager Hong Won-ki stated in an interview before the game against KT Wiz in the 2025 Shinhan Bank SOL Bank KBO League at Seoul's Gocheok Sky Dome on the 24th, "Alcantara could take the mound as early as next week."
Kiwoom announced, "On the 19th, we requested waivers on foreign player Yasiel Puig and signed a remaining season contract with right-handed pitcher Raul Alcantara for a total of $400,000 (approximately 5 billion won), including a salary of $250,000 (approximately 3 billion won) and an option of $150,000 (approximately 2 billion won)."
Alcantara, who has recorded 46 wins and 24 losses with an earned run average of 3.21 over 101 games (627 innings) in the KBO League, excelled in 2020 while playing for Doosan, winning 20 games and losing 2 with an earned run average of 2.54 over 31 games (198 innings) and earned a Golden Glove for pitching. His performance led him to advance to Nippon Professional Baseball (Hanshin).
After recording 2 wins and 2 losses with an earned run average of 4.76 over 12 games (64 innings) last season with Doosan, Alcantara left the team due to injury. This year, he played in the Mexican League, recording 1 loss with an earned run average of 7.17 over 5 games (21 innings). Although his performance this year has not been good, Kiwoom confirmed that Alcantara is showing similar velocity and control as he did during his KBO League days. He has completed an MRI on his elbow.
Alcantara is expected to arrive in Korea on the 25th. Manager Hong Won-ki explained, "He will enter the country on Monday and will go to Japan to obtain his visa. If he throws in the bullpen on Wednesday, it seems likely he could take the mound as early as Friday. Since he has plenty of experience in the KBO League, there won't be a need for special adjustment; I believe checking his condition with bullpen pitching will be sufficient rather than pitching in the Futures League."
Kiwoom reported that Kenny Rosenberg, who was removed from the first-team roster for rest on the 21st, will also be able to return on the 31st. If Alcantara pitches on June 3rd, Rosenberg will immediately take the mound on the 4th, perfectly aligning the starting rotation. Manager Hong Won-ki noted, "As long as there are no issues, Alcantara will pitch as planned."
Coincidentally, Kiwoom will play a home game against Doosan at Gocheok Dome on June 3rd. Doosan is the team Alcantara played for over the past three years. He had his best season in 2020 with 20 wins. Fans have high expectations for how Alcantara will perform against his former team.
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