Korean professional baseball team kt wiz parts ways with foreign pitcher William Cuevas (34) as they bring in a replacement player.
On the 11th, kt announced, "We have signed right-handed pitcher Patrick Murphy (30) as a replacement for Cuevas," adding that Murphy will receive a salary of $277,000 for the remainder of this season.
Murphy was selected in the third round by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2013 and made his major league debut in 2020 with Toronto. He has appeared in a total of 35 games in Major League Baseball (MLB) with the Toronto Blue Jays, Washington Nationals, and Texas Rangers, recording 3 losses and an earned run average of 4.76.
His minor league career statistics show 202 games (95 starts) with 34 wins, 33 losses, and an earned run average of 3.47.
Last year, he pitched in 40 games for the Nippon-Ham Fighters in the Japan Professional Baseball League, recording 1 win, 2 losses, and an earned run average of 3.26.
This year, he has pitched in 14 Triple-A games for the Round Rock Express, a Triple-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers, with a record of 1 win, 2 losses, and an earned run average of 3.18.
Nak Do-hyun, Director General of kt, noted, "Murphy not only has a fast ball but also utilizes a variety of pitches including a two-seam fastball, cut fastball, and curveball," expressing high expectations and adding, "I thank Cuevas for his dedication to the team over the years."
Cuevas is leaving the Korean stage. Having played for kt since 2019, Cuevas pitched in the regular season deciding game against the Samsung Lions at Daegu Samsung Lions Park on Oct. 31, 2021, and delivered a remarkable performance of 7 innings with 1 hit, no earned runs, and 8 strikeouts, leading the team to the top of the regular season.
He also led kt to its first overall victory with his superb pitching in Game 1 of the Korean Series against Doosan Bears.
Cuevas had his contract terminated in May 2022 due to an elbow injury, but he rejoined kt during the middle of the 2023 season.
However, this season, he has struggled significantly with a decline in his pitching performance, recording 3 wins and 10 losses with an earned run average of 5.40 in 18 games.
In June, it seemed he was bouncing back with an earned run average of 3.18 over 5 games, but he faltered again in the game against Doosan Bears on the 5th, giving up 5 earned runs on 6 hits and 2 walks over 5⅓ innings.
Cuevas' career statistics in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) show 149 games with 55 wins, 45 losses, and an earned run average of 3.93.