'Good news just before taking the mound': Samsung's Aukerlin extends contract for one month at 44 million won... "Could stay until the end of the season" [Jamsil on-site]

*This content was translated by AI.

"Could stay until the end of this season."

The contract of Samsung Lions' replacement foreign left-handed pitcher Jack Aukerlin (26, Australia) has been extended for one month.

Samsung announced on the 29th, ahead of its game against Doosan Bears at Seoul Jamsil Stadium, "We have reached an extension agreement with Aukerlin until May 31 for $30,000 (approximately 44.39 million won) following approval from the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) on the 27th." Aukerlin, who started the game, received this good news just before taking the mound.

Samsung manager Park Jin-man (50), speaking to reporters before the game, praised Aukerlin: "Aukerlin is maintaining a good momentum. If he continues pitching in his current form, he could stay until the end of the season. He was a bit inconsistent early in the season, but now he has found stability and is pitching well."

Aukerlin, who signed with Samsung in March, was brought in as a replacement for Matt Manning, who was sidelined for the season due to an acute elbow ligament tear in late February. On March 16, he signed a six-week contract with Samsung for a total of $50,000. In two exhibition games, he pitched 5⅓ innings, allowing 6 hits, 2 walks, striking out 7 batters, and giving up 2 earned runs (1 earned run), posting an ERA of 1.69 with stable pitching.

Since the start of the regular season, Aukerlin has been a key part of the starting rotation. In five games, he has yet to record a win, but has logged 22 innings with 22 strikeouts, an ERA of 4.50, and one loss. In his first game on March 31 against Doosan, he allowed 4 runs in 3⅔ innings. However, he delivered two quality starts: 6 innings with 2 runs allowed against KT Wiz on April 5, and 6 innings with 1 run allowed against SSG Landers in his most recent appearance on the 23rd.

Aukerlin also represented Australia in the World Baseball Classic (WBC) in March, pitching 3 scoreless innings against Chinese Taipei in the Round 1 Group C game and allowing 1 unearned run in 3⅓ innings against South Korea.

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*This content was translated by AI.