Kia Tigers Sign Veteran Infielder Aderlin Rodriguez as Injury Replacement

The Kia Tigers announced Monday they have signed longtime minor leaguer Aderlin Rodriguez as a temporary injury replacement. The Tigers said Rodriguez agreed to a six-week contract worth US$50,000 to fill in for injured outfielder Harold Castro, who suffered a quad injury on April 25. Rodriguez, who hails from the Dominican Republic, is scheduled to join the Tigers on Tuesday. Teams in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) are allowed to acquire injury replacements for foreign players who are sidelined for at least six weeks. Rodriguez, 34, has had 13 seasons in the U.S. minor leagues, including three in Triple-A, and has also played for the Orix Buffaloes and the Hanshin Tigers in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). In 236 games in Triple-A, Rodriguez had 60 home runs and 204 RBIs with a .296/.358/.580 line. In his two NPB campaigns, Rodriguez put up a .202/.260/.341 line with eight home runs and 34 RBIs in 83 games. He has been playing in Mexico and the Dominican Winter League since his NPB run ended in 2022. In 2025, Rodriguez launched 35 home runs and drove in 96 runs in 89 games in Mexico. The Tigers said Rodriguez will bring some offensive punch to their lineup in Castro's absence. Castro only had two homers and 16 RBIs in 23 games before the injury, with 22 strikeouts against just four walks.