GYEONGSAN (Yonhap) ― Lim Chang-yong, a former big league reliever who recently joined the Samsung Lions, will begin the 2014 Korea Baseball Organization season in the minor leagues, the club’s manager said Thursday.
Lim signed a one-year deal with his former KBO club on Wednesday, only days after getting released by the Chicago Cubs.
Though he claimed he was ready to pitch immediately, Lions manager Ryu Joong-il said he wanted to ease the veteran back into action.
“I’d like to give him seven to 10 days to get acclimated to the Korean mound before putting him in games,” Ryu said.
“I am sure Lim needs some time. It’s not about his pitching, but about giving him time to make adjustments.”
Lim Chang-yong (Yonhap)
The new season gets underway on Saturday, and the Lions, the three-time defending champs, will open the title defense at home in Daegu against the Kia Tigers.
Under KBO rules, a player demoted to the minors must spend at least 10 days before rejoining the big club.
At a press conference held later Thursday, Lim said he asked Ryu for a stint in the minors to get ready for the season.
“I am in great shape, but I hadn’t pitched for about five days since the release from the U.S.,” he said. “I plan to join the minor league team here on Saturday.”
The 37-year-old has agreed to a one-year deal worth 500 million won ($465,000). With 168 career saves in the KBO from 1995 to 2007, Lim could step in as the Lions’ new closer in place of right-hander Oh Seung-hwan, who signed with Japan’s Hanshin Tigers.
Lim said his objective is to become the new closer for the Lions and added, “First and foremost, I have to make my manager have faith in me as a reliable, useful player.”
