'Samsung's Aukerlin was extended twice': Why did KT, who opted for a six-week part-timer, give up on foreign ace one month early?

*This content was translated by AI.

KT Wiz quickly replaced foreign ace Caleb Boshly (33) despite having nearly a month left before the decision deadline, and there was a reason for it.

On the 18th, ahead of their match against Jamsil LG Twins, KT announced an unexpected switch to a formal contract with Logan Allen (29), who had served as a temporary replacement foreign player. The contract size is an annual salary of $425,000 (approximately 630 million won). At the same time, KT filed a waiver notice for Boshly with the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO).

The decision came just three days before the contract expiration. Logan had signed a six-week total contract worth $125,000 (approximately 186 million won) with KT on the 12th as an injury replacement for Boshly, with a deadline of July 21. Due to his full-time performance with NC Dinos last year, there were even jokes about him being a "veteran part-timer," but he delivered performances exceeding expectations.

Based on what he learned from the Los Angeles Dodgers' Triple-A team this year and his healthy physical condition, he consistently threw heavy fastballs clocking 147–148 km/h, instantly bringing stability to KT's mound. His six-week record was 5 games, 1 win, 1 loss, an ERA of 3.33, 27 innings pitched, and 20 strikeouts.

Before the game, KT manager Lee Kang-cheol explained his choice to sign Logan: "Boshly had no progress in rehabilitation. I'm not sure about surgery, but he said he couldn't put any strength into it." He added, "It's regrettable, but we have to face reality."

However, there were reasons to hesitate before giving up on Boshly. Despite this being his first season in the KBO League, Boshly had served as an ace with 11 games, 7 wins, 3 losses, an ERA of 3.16, 62⅔ innings pitched, and 56 strikeouts. Another reason it was difficult to give up on him so readily was the instability of another foreign pitcher, Matt Sauer, who posted 16 games, 6 wins, 4 losses, and an ERA of 4.39.

When Boshly's rehabilitation was expected to take longer, KT had one more option: extend Logan's temporary contract until Boshly recovered. According to confirmation from the KBO, there is no limit on the extension period for a temporary replacement foreign player contract after the initial six-week term ends.

Jack Aukerlin (26), signed as an injury replacement for Matt Manning this year, is a representative case. After his initial six-week contract ended, Aukerlin also signed a four-week first extension on April 29. Following the end of that first extension on May 29, he signed a second six-week extension lasting until July 16, staying with the team for the entire first half of the season.

Furthermore, the timing for converting a replacement foreign player to a formal contract does not have to coincide with the end of their temporary contract. Therefore, KT could have extended Logan's temporary contract and made a final decision based on Boshly's condition.

However, KT judged that Boshly's return date remained uncertain even a month later. Players eligible to play in the postseason are limited to those who signed formal contracts by August 15; this does not apply to injury replacement players like Logan.

In a phone call with StarNews, KT General Manager Na Do-hyun explained, "Internal discussions suggested that Boshly's rehabilitation period would likely be longer than we anticipated. We needed to schedule his ITP (Interval Throwing Program) or rehabilitation appearances before August 15, but even predicting that was difficult."

Fortunately amidst the misfortune was the strong performance of other foreign players. Foreign batter Sam Hilliard hit back-to-back home runs, raising his batting average to 0.295, nearly reaching the .300 mark. Sauer, who made his first appearance in the second half on this day, also led KT to an 8-2 victory with six innings pitched, allowing five hits (one home run), two walks and one hit-by-pitch, striking out two batters, and giving up two earned runs, securing his seventh win of the season (four losses).

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*This content was translated by AI.