Landers sign Japanese pitcher Hiramoto as injury replacement

By Yoo Jee-ho

SEOUL, May 5 (Yonhap) -- The SSG Landers announced Tuesday they have signed Japanese left-hander Ginjiro Hiramoto as a short-term injury replacement.

The Landers said they will pay Hiramoto US$70,000 to fill in for right-hander Mitch White, who is expected to be sidelined for at least six weeks with a rotator cuff injury.

Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) clubs are allowed to sign temporary replacements for their injured foreign players, and seven of the 10 teams in the league have made use of that rule this year.

Hiramoto, 26, was a high school standout who has been pitching for the independent club Gunma Diamond Pegasus this season, compiling a 2-1 record with a 4.64 ERA and 35 strikeouts in 21 1/3 innings.

The Landers said they are particularly high on Hiramoto's fastball, which can reach 152 kph. The left-hander mixes it with a slider and a changeup.

Hiramoto becomes the second Japanese pitcher for the Landers, who signed Shota Takeda as their Asian quota player in November.

White went 1-1 with a 4.11 ERA in six starts in his second KBO season after putting up an 11-4 record and a 2.87 ERA in 24 starts in 2025. The half-Korean pitcher is scheduled to be reevaluated in a couple of weeks.