Another Korean to join MLB – Pitcher Oh Seung Hwan signs with St Louis Cardinals

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Oh Seung Hwan has been such a dominant pitcher in Japan that he has two nicknames: “Fi-nal Boss” and “Stone Buddha.”

The St. Louis Cardinals project the Korean with 357 career saves as a reliever who’ll get the ball to their own record-setting closer, Trevor Rosenthal.

“We felt like we wanted to do something to ramp it up,” general manager John Mozeliak said Monday at a news conference to announce the signing of Oh to a one-year contract with a club option for a second year. “He really matched up well for what we were trying to accomplish.”

The 33-year-old Oh, who had 41 saves last year, said through an interpreter that playing in the major leagues has long been a dream and now “the dream comes true.”

“I’ve achieved everything in Korea and Japan as a closer,” Oh said. “I wanted a new environment and was looking for motivation.”

Oh had been facing a suspension for casino gambling had he returned to pitch in Korea.

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Mozeliak said the sides came to an agreement before that suspension was announced.

Oh signed a free agent deal with Hanshin prior to last season. He led the Central League in saves in 2014 and ’15, setting the record for most saves by a Korean pitcher in Japanese baseball.

via Ex-Hanshin closer Oh joins Cards – The Japan News.