'ERA 6.10' Anthony replaced by Abila, who tops out at 156 km/h — Can SSG end its starting nightmare? [Jamsil Field]

*This content was translated by AI.

Can the SSG Landers finally put an end to their starting pitcher nightmare? New foreign pitcher Pedro Abila (29) has joined the team. After breaking a nine-game losing streak thanks to rookie Kim Min-jun's performance, SSG aims for a second-half turnaround with its revamped starting rotation.

On the 8th, SSG announced that it had signed foreign pitcher Pedro Abila for a total contract value of $400,000 (base salary: $380,000, option: $20,000).

To strengthen its starting rotation, SSG signed right-handed pitcher Pedro Abila, who has experience across various leagues including Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) in Japan.

Standing 180 cm tall and weighing 95 kg, Abila possesses a solid physical build. He throws a powerful fastball averaging over 150 km/h, reaching speeds up to 156 km/h. He also utilizes a variety of breaking balls — cutter, changeup, curveball, and splitter — allowing him to strategically pressure batters.

A native of Venezuela, Abila joined the Washington Nationals in 2014 and made his MLB debut with the San Diego Padres in 2019.

In his MLB career, Abila has appeared in 72 games, pitching 146⅓ innings with an 8–4 record, one hold, one save, and a 3.51 ERA. In the minor leagues, he has started 145 of his 189 career appearances, logging 742⅔ innings, showcasing his extensive experience as a reliable starting pitcher.

In 2025, Abila pitched for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows in NPB, appearing in 15 games over 82⅓ innings with a 7–8 record and a 4.04 ERA, gaining experience in Asian baseball. This season, he has started 13 of his 15 appearances under the Cleveland Guardians' Triple-A affiliate, pitching 60 innings and maintaining consistent game action up to the present.

SSG evaluated Abila's extensive starting experience, ability to reliably pitch multiple innings, and recent track record of active participation, concluding that he is the ideal resource to bolster the team's current starting rotation.

After finalizing his contract, Pedro Abila stated, "I am very happy to become a member of SSG. Through this new challenge, I will deliver strong performances and contribute to the team's victories."

Starting from May 17, SSG fell into streaks of 13 consecutive losses, five straight defeats, and nine-game losing runs, dropping from fourth place to ninth. The most decisive factor was the inability of the starting rotation to hold on, with only ten quality starts recorded for the entire team. However, with Thomas Hatch joining the roster, Kim Min-jun breaking the losing streak, and now Abila also arriving, expectations are rising that the second half will bring a different outcome.

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*This content was translated by AI.