The Samsung Lions embraced Yura Miyaji, a former second-tier member of the Japanese Professional Baseball (NPB), in the Asian quarter.
Samsung said on the 1st, “We recruited Japanese pitcher Miyaji as an Asian quarter player that will be introduced next season.”
With a physique measuring 186 centimeters and weighing 90 kilograms, Miyaji is a right-handed pitcher who throws fastballs with a maximum speed of 158 kilometers and an average speed of 149.6 kilometers. As a breaking ball, a splitter, a slider, and a curve are used. Although he has no experience in the NPB’s first division, he has upgraded the level to the NPB’s second division after going through the Japanese social baseball Mickey House and the independent league Tokushima Indigo Sox from 2022. Last season, he played for Kuhu Hayate Ventures Shizuoka. It is a team participating in the NPB’s second-tier league and is one of the two teams that do not have a first-tier parent team.
사진 확대 Miyaji. Photo = Courtesy of Samsung
Miyaji lost two and posted a 2.88 WHIP 1.40 ERA in a total of 25 innings in the NPB’s second division in the 2025 season. In addition, he has the ability to be suitable for Lions Park, which is friendly to batters with 11.2 strikeouts per 9 innings.
Samsung, which has been closely looking at the Asian quarter target players such as Japan, Taiwan and Australia, chose Miyaji’s potential. It has joined hands with conditions of up to $180,000 per year, including $100,000 in annual salary, $50,000 in incentives, and $30,000 in transfer fees.
Samsung did not hide its expectations, saying, “Miyaji will help bullpen power.”
Meanwhile, Samsung also announced the recruitment of foreign pitcher Matt Manning on the same day. Samsung, which recently re-signed Ariel Furado and Lewin Diaz, will complete the formation of all foreign players in 2026.
사진 확대 Manning. Photograph = Courtesy of Samsung
[Lee Hanjoo, MK Sports Reporter]