Wiz sign starting pitcher De Jesus

Enmanuel De Jesus smiles while signing his new contract with KT Wiz, in this photo provided by KT Wiz, Dec. 1. Yonhap

The KT Wiz announced Sunday they have signed pitcher Enmanuel De Jesus, a season after the left-hander excelled for a rival club in the Korean league.

The Wiz said De Jesus agreed to a one-year deal worth $1 million, with a salary of $800,000 and a signing bonus of $200,000.

The Venezuelan pitcher was a starter for the Kiwoom Heroes in his first Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) season in 2024. He went 13-11 with a 3.68 ERA in 30 starts and recorded 178 strikeouts in 171 1/3 innings. He ranked second overall in strikeouts, third in wins, fifth in innings pitched and seventh in ERA. He also had 20 quality starts — an outing in which a starting pitcher holds opponents to three runs or fewer over at least six innings — to rank second in that category.

Despite his strong season, the Heroes decided not to retain De Jesus for 2025. They also parted ways with another foreign-born ace, Ariel Jurado, and instead chose to go with one foreign pitcher next year, Kenny Rosenberg, while looking to give homegrown pitchers an opportunity.

In not re-signing De Jesus, the Heroes also released their rights to the pitcher, making him a free agent who could sign with any KBO club.

The Wiz said De Jesus, 27, is a proven ace who will form a strong one-two punch at the top of their rotation alongside William Cuevas, whom they re-signed for a seventh season on Friday.

De Jesus is replacing left-hander Wes Benjamin in the Wiz's rotation. (Yonhap)