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LG Twins' bid to sign pitcher Okada blocked by KBO regulations

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • KBO team LG Twins agreed to sign pitcher Okada Akitake from the minor league club Ulsan Whales.
  • The deal was blocked by KBO regulations that restrict player transfers between minor league and professional teams.
  • LG's original Asian quota player, L Cochrane Wells, is injured, prompting the need for a roster change.

The LG Twins professional baseball team's attempt to sign Japanese pitcher Okada Akitake from the minor league Ulsan Whales has been thwarted by Korean Baseball Organization (KBO) regulations. The agreement, which had initially been reached, was ultimately blocked due to specific rules governing player transfers.

LG had been seeking to replace their underperforming and injured Asian quota player, L Cochrane Wells. After Wells sustained a shoulder injury, the team inquired with the KBO about the procedures for acquiring Okada. The KBO initially responded that there were no procedural issues with the transfer, leading LG and Ulsan to finalize their agreement.

There were no procedural issues with the transfer.

— KBOInitial response to LG Twins regarding the potential transfer of Okada Akitake.

Okada, who was preparing for his potential debut in the top league, traveled to Seoul on August 12 in anticipation of the announcement. However, the situation took a sharp turn when the KBO reversed its decision after a further review of its regulations.

Okada's transfer is impossible.

— KBORevised decision after re-examining regulations.

The KBO cited Article 78, Section 5 of its regulations, which stipulates that transfers of players from minor league affiliated clubs to KBO member teams are only permitted from the day after the KBO postseason concludes until July 31 of the following year. This rule effectively prevented Okada's immediate transfer.

Consequently, LG's acquisition of Okada was canceled, and the first-ever transfer of a Ulsan player to a KBO team did not materialize. The KBO issued an apology to both LG and Ulsan, acknowledging a "lack of thoroughness in reviewing the regulations" during their initial response.

There was a lack of thoroughness in reviewing the regulations during the KBO's initial response.

— KBOApology issued to LG and Ulsan for the regulatory oversight.

Meanwhile, LG announced that L Cochrane Wells was diagnosed with a minor tear in his subscapularis muscle and will undergo a follow-up examination in four weeks.

Wells was diagnosed with a minor tear in his subscapularis muscle and will undergo a follow-up examination in four weeks.

— LG TwinsUpdate on the injured player L Cochrane Wells.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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