Doosan Bears Sign Wes Benjamin to Full Contract, Acquire Infielder Yunior Severino

By Yoo Jee-ho

SEOUL, July 2 (Yonhap) -- The Doosan Bears announced Thursday they have signed a temporary injury fill-in Wes Benjamin to a full contract and acquired a new infielder Yunior Severino.

Benjamin agreed to a US$450,000 deal that will keep him in the Bears' rotation for the remainder of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) season.

Benjamin first joined the Bears in early April on a six-week contract as a replacement for injured starter Chris Flexen. Benjamin then earned another six-week deal in late May, as Flexen remained out with shoulder problems.

The Bears then cut ties with Flexen on Monday, two days before Benjamin's second six-week contract was set to expire. Then on the last day of his deal, Benjamin struck out a season-high 10 batters while giving up one unearned run in six innings against the Lotte Giants.

Benjamin has pitched to a 2.66 ERA since making his season debut on April 21, the third-best mark in the KBO during that period. For the season, the American left-hander owns the second-best ERA on the Bears, who lead the KBO with a 3.97 ERA.

Benjamin previously pitched for another KBO club, the KT Wiz, from 2022 to 2024.

In another move Thursday, the Bears signed Severino at $200,000 as their new foreign hitter, after releasing outfielder Daz Cameron on Monday.

Severino, a 27-year-old from the Dominican Republic, is a career minor leaguer who has also spent time in the Dominican Winter League and the Mexican League.

In 54 games in Mexico this season, Severino batted .340/.402/.529 with five home runs and 44 RBIs.

The Bears said the switch-hitting Severino will provide power from both sides of the plate and should be able to add a much-needed punch to their lineup.

Severino has played multiple positions throughout his career, including first base, second base and third base. When the Bears released Cameron, they explained that they wanted young, homegrown outfielders to get more playing time and they were pursuing a new foreign player who could play corner infield positions.

While their pitching staff has put up strong numbers, the Bears have struggled offensively this season, ranking near the bottom in runs, home runs, batting average with runners in scoring position, and on-base plus slugging.

Before facing the Lotte Giants at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul on Thursday, Bears manager Kim Won-hyong said he hoped Severino will be their full-time first baseman.

It is a position typically reserved for power hitters, but the Bears have had the KBO's worst production from that position. Their first basemen have combined to hit .217 with only three home runs, 25 RBIs and a .287 slugging percentage -- all of them the lowest marks in the league.

"All season long, I have felt we needed to do something with our first base position, and hopefully, Severino will be our answer," Kim told reporters, adding that Severino will start out batting third in the lineup.