'Collision with Lee Yong-gyu led to unexpected injury' — Wealthy player Dohson, who left Korea, heads to Taiwan

*This content was translated by AI.

Outfielder Rony Dohson (31), who played for the Kiwoom Heroes in the KBO League from the 2023 season through the 2024 season, is heading to the Taiwan Professional Baseball League (CPBL). Instead of a recall to Major League Baseball (MLB) or a return to the Korean market, he has chosen the Taiwan league.

According to multiple media outlets in Taiwan, including TSNA, the Rakuten Monkeys, a CPBL team, announced on the 24th via official statement that "we have reached an agreement to sign Dohson, a left-handed outfielder," and added that "he is expected to join the team around mid-July once administrative procedures are completed."

After leaving Korea at the end of the 2024 season, Dohson recently played in the Atlantic League, an independent league in the United States, aiming for another shot at the majors and a return to the Asian market. He recorded 8 home runs and an OPS of 0.966 in 31 games during the independent league season, signaling his full recovery from injury, but ultimately did not receive calls from either the big leagues or KBO teams, leading him to choose Taiwan.

Local reports indicate that Rakuten pursued the acquisition of an overseas hitter mid-season due to a severe slump in their offense. Rakuten managed only 151 runs in their first 54 games of the season, averaging less than three runs per game, marking the worst offensive performance in league history. The Rakuten organization added that while Dohson's signing will strengthen their lineup, they plan to focus on recruiting additional foreign players primarily as pitchers in the future.

Dohson first stepped onto the Korean stage in the 2023 season as a replacement for Eddie Russell, wearing the Kiwoom uniform. He performed exceptionally well in the 2024 season as well, batting .330 with 11 home runs, 57 RBIs, and an OPS of 0.907 in 95 games. However, in July, he suffered a serious injury when he collided heavily with fellow outfielder Lee Yong-gyu (41) during a defensive play, resulting in a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). He underwent surgery in August, ending his season, and subsequently parted ways with Kiwoom after the season concluded.

Notably, he posted a solid batting average of .332 (203 hits in 611 at-bats) over his entire KBO League career. In the 2024 season, his offensive performance was strong enough to compete for the batting title alongside Guillermo Heredia of the SSG Landers and Victor Reyes of the Lotte Giants, but he unfortunately left Korea due to injury. Captivating Korean baseball fans with his natural showmanship, he even earned the nickname "Hyeongbuja" (the generous benefactor).

When news of the founding of the Ulsan Whales broke in January, Dohson posted a photo of the team's whale mascot on his social media. At the time, some in the baseball community speculated about contact with Ulsan Whales, Korea's first civic team, sparking rumors of his return to Korea, but his final destination was ultimately confirmed as Rakuten in Taiwan.

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*This content was translated by AI.