SEOUL – The Hanwha Eagles, a team in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), have announced the signing of Venezuelan hitter Yonathan Perlaza. The 25-year-old former minor league player has agreed to a one-year contract with the Eagles, potentially earning up to US$1 million.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Perlaza's deal includes a $600,000 annual salary, a $200,000 signing bonus, and the possibility of an additional $200,000 in incentives. Despite signing with the Chicago Cubs as a teenager in 2015, Perlaza has yet to make his major league debut. In the 2023 season, he played 121 games in Triple-A, achieving a batting average of .284, a .389 on-base percentage, a .534 slugging percentage, with 23 home runs, 85 RBIs, and 13 stolen bases.
His versatility is evident in his minor league career, where he has played at various positions including second base, third base, shortstop, left field, and right field. Perlaza is set to replace Nick Williams, who concluded the 2023 season with the Eagles after taking over from Brian O'Grady in June. Williams had a batting average of .244, with nine home runs and 45 RBIs in 68 games.