Now he is not Kiwoom Heroes player Song Seong-mun, but major leaguer Song Seong-mun.
Song Seong-mun, who signed a guaranteed four-year, $15 million contract with the San Diego Padres and up to 4+1 years for $21 million, will complete the contract and return to Korea on the 23rd.
Song Seong-mun, who challenged the major leagues through the posting system, was reported on the 20th that he had signed with the San Diego Padres in the United States. It was initially reported as a three-year, $13 million deal, but including player options and mutual options the contract aggregates increased in total value.
The contract details of Song Seong-mun released by the AP News are as follows. He receives a $1 million signing bonus, $2.5 million in 2026, $3 million in 2027, $3.5 million in 2028, receiving $10 million in total up front. The fourth year, 2029, is a player option. A $4 million player option is attached. The contract is guaranteed through the fourth year.
And the fifth-year 2030 contract carries a $7 million mutual option between the club and the player. The option clause is activated only if both the player and the club agree. If the club does not want the option, the player can take a $1 million buyout and enter the free agent market.
An incentive clause is also included. If he wins rookie of the year in his debut season, his salary the next year will increase by $1 million. If there is a season in which he finishes in the top five of MVP voting, his salary will increase by $1 million each year for the remaining contract period.
The club will also cover interpreter expense and the cost of round-trip airfare between Korea and the United States.
Song Seong-mun, who joined Nexen (now Kiwoom) after being selected in the 2015 rookie draft second stage, fifth round (49th overall), is an infielder who has a KBO League career of 824 games, a .283 batting average (2,889 at-bats, 818 hits), 80 home runs, 454 RBIs, 410 runs and 51 steals with an OPS of .778. He was not a player who drew attention through 2023, but his talents began to bloom starting last year.
This year he finished the 144-game season with a .315 batting average (574 at-bats, 181 hits), 26 home runs, 90 RBIs, 103 runs, 25 steals and an OPS of .917, producing outstanding results and completing his preparation to challenge the big leagues.<
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