"I can't go because of my family..." What else is going on besides failing to renew the contract with KIA? → Negotiations are possible with all KBO clubs, and will South Korea return dramatically
"I can't go because of my family..." What else is going on besides failing to renew the contract with KIA? → Negotiations are possible with all KBO clubs, and will South Korea return dramatically
Blog Article
Socrates Brito (33), a much-loved foreign hitter who played for the KIA Tigers for three seasons, has been offered a contract by the Taiwanese professional baseball team. However, Socrates' trip to Taiwan was reportedly canceled due to family-related reasons. Will Socrates be able to enter the Korean stage again.
Taiwan's local media CPBL STATS reported on the 4th (Korea time) that Wei Quan, the head of the Dragons, said in an interview with Liberty Sports that he had negotiated with Socrates, who played for KIA for three years. CPBL STATS added, "But Socrates could not come to Taiwan due to family-related reasons."
Socrates joined Kia Tigers ahead of the 2022 season, and continued to display good performance until last season. While playing in 140 games for Socrates in the 2024 season, he had a batting average of 0.310 (171 hits in 552 times at bat), 26 homers, 30 doubles, three triples, 97 RBIs, 92 runs and 13 steals (five failed), 41 walks, 91 strikeouts, a slugging percentage of 0.516 on-base percentage of 0.359 OPS of 0.875 and a batting average of 0.336.
It was certainly not a bad performance. It would not be a surprise if he renewed his contract with Kia, but Kia decided to leave the team. Above all, a substitute for Socrates was born. The hero was Patrick Wisdom (34), a new foreign hitter. Since his debut in the big league in 2018, he played in a total of 455 games for seven seasons through the 2024 season, and posted a batting average of 0.209 (274 hits from 1311 times at bat). He had 58 doubles and three triples. Notably, he struck out 540 times and drew 132 walks while hitting 88 home runs. Expectations are high for this season as he is evaluated as having better slugging power than Socrates.
Even if they broke up with Socrates, KIA could have taken the right to hold it for five years. According to the KBO rules, players on the hold list can only negotiate with their original clubs. It is impossible to transfer to other teams in the KBO League for five years, when the original club holds the right to hold the hold. However, KIA boldly lifted the hold. Regarding the reason, Shim Jae-hak told Star News, "Socrates worked very hard for the three years he has been with us. He played well in winning the team, so I thought it was natural to release the hold. I can do well even if I go to other KBO teams, but I thought it was a courtesy to open the way for Socrates first."
Socrates also expressed his gratitude to Kia. At the end of December last year when the news spread, Socrates wrote his nickname "Tes-hyung" in Korean and said, "I want to say thank you to the Kia Tigers for allowing me to be a part of this team for the past three years. I have always taken care of my family. I am grateful to my teammates who have made me feel like a family and to my coaches who have enabled me to become better players. I also thank my fans who have always supported me and shown me constant love. I will put all of you in the back of my heart."
Socrates said, "I am fortunate that my hard work for a season resulted in my victory. I will never forget this feeling," adding, "Trust, gratitude, joy, and how I end this moment. I will finish a cycle and take on new challenges with confidence that I did well. Thank you all!"
He left a farewell speech like this, but there is a possibility that he will see Socrates again on the Korean stage this season 온라인바카라. In fact, it could have become difficult to return to the KBO League if KIA had continued to hold the right to hold on. However, now KIA has given up the right to hold on. As a result, a situation has been created in which other teams can sufficiently recruit Socrates as an alternative foreign hitter. It can be said that it is a resource worth considering if a foreign player from another team other than KIA is sluggish or injured.
During his three seasons in the KBO league, Socrates played a total of 409 games, posting a batting average of 0.302 (487 hits in 1,613 at-bats) with 90 doubles, 13 triples, 270 RBIs and 266 runs, and a batting average of 0.491 with 252 strikeouts and an on-base percentage of 0.352 hit by 127 walks (18 failures). He recorded five errors (2022 season), seven (2023 season) and five (2024 season), respectively. Socrates' contract for the 2024 season is worth 1.2 million U.S. dollars (down payment of 300,000 won, annual salary of 500,000 and option 400,000 dollars). It can be said that this is a ransom that other teams can afford as well. Will Socrates be able to make a dramatic comeback to the Korean stage during the season and enjoy the ground again.