Ryu signs record 8-year deal in return to KBO

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1 year ago

February 22, 2024

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Feb 22, 2024, 02:50 AM ET

SEOUL — Former Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Hyun Jin Ryu has signed an eight-year, 17 billion won ($12.8 million) contract to return to his native South Korea with the Hanwha Eagles, the Korea Baseball Organization club said Thursday.

The 36-year-old left-hander’s deal with the Eagles, for whom Ryu played from 2006 to 2012, includes the most guaranteed money ever for a KBO player.

The contract is the longest in league history. Ryu would be 44 and the KBO’s oldest-ever player if he sees out the deal.

Ryu said he always wanted to give something back to the Eagles for developing him as a player.

“Hanwha Eagles is a team that helped me become who I am today,” he said in a club statement. “Ever since I made it to the Major League, I have always thought that I would come back and return the favour.”

Ryu played six seasons for the Dodgers and spent four years with the Blue Jays, posting a 78-48 regular-season record with a 3.27 ERA in 186 outings, mostly as a starter.

In 2009 with the Dodgers, Ryu was selected as a starter at the All-Star Game, and he was the National League’s Cy Young Award runner-up in 2019, with a 2.32 ERA.

He began his professional career with the Eagles in 2006, when he became the first KBO player to win both the MVP and Rookie of the Year titles.

Ryu was 98-52 with a 2.80 career ERA through seven seasons in the KBO.

He helped South Korea reach the finals of the 2009 World Baseball Classic and win the gold medal in the 2008 Olympic Games.

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Padres vs. Dodgers (Jun 16, 2025) Live Score – ESPN

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2 hours ago

June 17, 2025

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Padres vs. Dodgers (Jun 16, 2025) Live Score - ESPN

Shohei Ohtani pitches, hits in game for first time since ’23

Shohei Ohtani made his pitching debut from Dodger Stadium on Monday, giving up a run in his lone inning of work, then struck out in his first plate appearance as Los Angeles’ DH, marking the first time he has pitched and hit in a game since Aug. 23, 2023.

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Source: Steelers extend S Elliott on 2-year deal

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2 hours ago

June 17, 2025

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Source: Steelers extend S Elliott on 2-year deal

Jun 16, 2025, 10:32 PM ET

The Pittsburgh Steelers and safety DeShon Elliott have agreed to a two-year, $12.5 million extension with $9.21 million guaranteed, a source confirmed to ESPN.

Elliott, 28, was one of the Steelers’ best run defenders last year with 2 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries, 4 tackles for loss and 108 combined tackles.

NFL Network first reported the deal.

A former sixth-round pick, Elliott spent his first four seasons in the league with the Baltimore Ravens and Detroit Lions before joining the Miami Dolphins for one year.

The Steelers signed Elliott as a free agent to a two-year deal before the 2024 season.

He has 395 tackles in 72 career games.

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Ex-Ohtani interpreter reports to federal prison

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2 hours ago

June 17, 2025

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Ex-Ohtani interpreter reports to federal prison

Tisha ThompsonJun 16, 2025, 03:36 PM ET
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Ippei Mizuhara, the disgraced former interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani, is in federal prison in Pennsylvania, a spokesperson for the Federal Bureau of Prisons told ESPN on Monday.

Mizuhara, 40, was ordered to surrender to federal authorities by Monday. He is in custody at Federal Correctional Institution Allenwood Low, a low-security facility, after being sentenced to 57 months in prison for stealing nearly $17 million from Ohtani.

Mizuhara was initially ordered to report to prison in March, but a federal judge granted the delay. The reasons for the delay remain under seal.

Mizuhara’s attorney declined ESPN’s request for comment, but previously stated that he expects Mizuhara, a Japanese citizen, to eventually be deported.

The Dodgers fired Mizuhara in March 2024 after an ESPN investigation revealed he sent millions in wire transfers from Ohtani’s account to an illegal bookmaker. He pleaded guilty to bank fraud and filing a false tax return in June 2024, admitting that he placed about 19,000 bets with the bookie over a two-year period and accumulated over $40 million in debt.

The bookmaker, Mathew Bowyer, pleaded guilty in August to running an illegal gambling business, money laundering and subscribing a false tax return. He is awaiting sentencing.