Reportedly close to getting a deal done with the Pittsburgh Pirates, South Korean shortstop Kang Jung-ho will depart for Pittsburgh this week, his current South Korean club announced Monday.

The Nexen Heroes said Kang will leave for the U.S. city on Wednesday.

Once there, Kang will undergo medical tests on Thursday and Friday, the Heroes added.

The Heroes posted Kang last month, after the slugging shortstop belted 40 home runs and drove in 117 runs in 117 games in the 2014 season. The home run and RBI totals were both single-season records by a shortstop in the KBO.

The Pirates won the silent auction with a bid of $5,002,015 and received the exclusive rights to negotiate with Kang for 30 days. The deadline is Jan. 20. (Yonhap)