KIA Tigers are on the verge of recruiting another active big leaguer.

MLB Trade Rumors (MLBTR), which reported the transfer to the Major League, quoted Ari Alexander of Houston media KPRC-2 on the 13th (Korea time), saying, "Right-handed pitcher Adam Oler has agreed to a contract with the KIA Tigers of the KBO League." The media added, "It is the first time that a Gaeta Sports Management customer has entered overseas. Oler will join the KBO champion club."메이저놀이터

The KIA Tigers, who achieved the unified championship this year, started the 2024 season with two big league pitchers, Will Crow and James Nail. Cam Aldred joined as a substitute as Crowe left due to injury, and in August, Lauer, who won 36 MLB titles, wore the KIA uniform in place of Aldred. When Nail had a break due to a jaw injury, he used only five foreign pitchers, including recruiting Eric Stout, who was playing in Taiwan, as a temporary substitute.

In the end, Kia, which had a one-two punch with Nail and Lauer foreigners in the Korean Series, won the title with four wins and one loss, and won the overall title after ranking first in the regular season. Now, about two weeks have passed since the end of the season, Kia has quickly started to recruit foreign pitchers. Nail, who played as an ace with 12 wins and five losses and an ERA of 2.53, says MLB clubs are showing interest. Lauer has not shown adequate performance as a pitcher with 36 MLB wins in a short period of time. It is not official whether KIA will recruit Oler or which player will be replaced.

Oler, who is being considered as a possible replacement, is a right-hander born in 1994 and has a physique of 193 centimeters and weight of 102 kilograms. He was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 2016 rookie draft as the 615th pick in the 20th round, and made his big league debut with the Oakland Athletics in 2022.

With 19 games (14 starts) in 2022, 2-8 with a 6.30 ERA, and nine games (1 start) in 2023 with a 10.07 ERA, he signed a minor league contract with the Miami Marlins ahead of this season and tried again in the big leagues. Aller, who was called up to the big leagues in August, had 2-4 record with a 5.31 ERA in eight games.

MLBTR said, "Even though Oller did not succeed in the big league, there is good reason to think he can do well in the KBO league," adding, "He performed well in Triple-A in the 2021-22 season and showed good pitching by recording an ERA of 2.88 again in the Triple-A team under Miami in the 2024 season. In general, he played solidly at the highest level (Triple A) in the minor league."

Aller, who was promoted to Triple-A for the first time in 2021, had four wins, one loss and a 2.45 ERA in eight games that year. Aller, who also showed good performance in 2022 with three wins and a 3.69 ERA in seven games, has three wins and a 2.88 ERA in six games (three starts) for the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, a Triple-A team under Miami.

MLBTR said, "Oller throws a fastball with an average speed of 93.7 miles per hour (about 150.8 km/h) and uses curves and changeups," adding, "If he succeeds overseas, more opportunities may open in Asia, but if he plays in the KBO league for a season, he can lead to his return to the big league," predicting that Oller will try again in the big league based on the KBO league stage.