Busan, South Korea – The Lotte Giants are banking on a fastball-fueled revamp of their pitching staff as they prepare for the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) season. The club has aggressively pursued and secured three pitchers – Elvin Rodriguez, Jeremy Beasley, and Masaya Kiyoyama – all known for their velocity, in an effort to address vulnerabilities that plagued them in .
Unlike their approach to position players, where they retained veteran Victor Reyes for a third consecutive year, Lotte completely overhauled their pitching rotation. The Giants are targeting pitchers who haven’t found sustained success in Major League Baseball but have demonstrated the ability to dominate on the international stage, specifically in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) league. This strategy, according to club officials, is about identifying undervalued talent with proven track records in Asia.
Elvin Rodriguez, a -year-old Dominican right-hander, signed a one-year, $1 million deal. His recent success in Japan with the Yakult Swallows is a key factor in Lotte’s decision. In , Rodriguez carved out a late-inning role, posting a sub-2.00 ERA over 45 ⅓ innings. This performance stands in stark contrast to his struggles in MLB from to , where he allowed 55 runs in 52 ⅔ innings across stints with the Milwaukee Brewers, Baltimore Orioles, and Detroit Tigers.
Joining Rodriguez is Jeremy Beasley, a -year-old right-hander, also inked to a $1 million contract. Beasley brings experience from both MLB and NPB, most recently logging over 100 innings for the Central League-champion Hanshin Tigers. He’s known for a fastball reaching mid-to-high 150 km/h and a high-value slider. Beasley expressed excitement about pitching in front of Lotte’s passionate fanbase in Busan.
Completing the trio is Masaya Kiyoyama. While possessing a fastball clocked at 155 km/h, Kiyoyama’s control has been a concern. Throughout 84 NPB games and 277 ⅔ innings pitched, he walked 160 batters, averaging 5.2 walks per nine innings. Despite his velocity, this lack of control has resulted in a career ERA of 4.60 and limited his opportunities.
The focus on fastball pitchers isn’t without its potential drawbacks. Concerns exist regarding Rodriguez’s limited experience as a starter – he’s never pitched more than 140 innings in a season – and Beasley’s history of injuries. Kiyoyama’s control issues are also a significant point of consideration. However, Lotte officials believe these concerns can be mitigated within the KBO League, which they view as less demanding than the leagues in the U.S. And Japan.
“It’s right that the fastball is the most important thing to beat a hitter at a critical moment,” a Lotte club spokesperson stated. “But these are not the players who were simply selected because of the quick catch. I was the first to see the ability of the players in general. Even if the fastball was a low limit, it could be comprehensively determined, such as the number of revolutions, the spin axis, etc. I don’t think he is better than an athlete who throws 145 kilometers if he throws 150 kilometers per hour unconditionally.”
The Giants are particularly optimistic about the potential of all three pitchers to leverage their changeups effectively, believing that a well-executed changeup combined with their fastballs could make them dominant forces. Rodriguez possesses a variety of breaking balls, including a cutter, sweeper, curveball, and changeup, while Beasley features choppy balls with excellent lateral movement, including a slider.
The KBO League’s relatively shorter distances compared to the U.S. And Japan are also seen as a potential advantage, potentially lessening the impact of past injury concerns. Rodriguez has already participated in spring training in Taiwan, reportedly reaching velocities of 153 km/h and 148 km/h, meeting the team’s expectations.
Kiyoyama, despite his control issues, brings a unique skillset with his fastball and splitter. He expressed enthusiasm for adapting to Korean culture and focusing solely on baseball, a contrast to the competitive environment in NPB. “I just don’t know, but I also expect a lot,” Kiyoyama said. “I think the level of baseball between Korea and Japan is not that different, so I think I want to make my own pitch.” He added, “I am ready to work hard in whatever role I leave on the team. I don’t have a numerical goal, but I want to help the team, so I want to be a pitcher with a low ERA and a lot of strikeouts.”
With the pitching staff largely rebuilt, and Victor Reyes returning to lead the offense, the Lotte Giants are hoping this revamped roster will translate into improved performance in the KBO season.
