Yoni Chirinos released as club makes move for back-to-back title

LG Twins new foreign pitcher Yaxsel Rios. [Captured from LG Twins social media]
LG Twins new foreign pitcher Yaxsel Rios. [Captured from LG Twins social media]

The LG Twins, atop the KBO League standings, have made a bold move in their bid for back-to-back championships, releasing foreign pitcher Yoni Chirinos and signing Yaxsel Rios as his replacement.

The club announced Wednesday it had signed Rios, a Puerto Rican national, to a contract worth $450,000 — a base salary of $350,000 plus up to $100,000 in incentives.

The right-hander was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in 2011 and made his Major League Baseball debut in 2017. He appeared in 93 MLB games across six clubs, including Philadelphia, posting a career record of 8 wins and 2 losses with a 6.21 ERA.

In the minor leagues, Rios compiled a career record of 36 wins and 32 losses with a 4.11 ERA over 344 appearances. This season, he had pitched in 11 games at Triple-A, going 0-3 with a 4.24 ERA before the signing.

The Twins described Rios as "a power pitcher who attacks hitters with a fastball," adding that he had "showcased his dominant stuff at the 2026 World Baseball Classic."

Rios said through the club that he was "honored to join the LG Twins, the champions who won last year's title," and pledged to adapt quickly after joining mid-season to help the team defend its title this year.

The club has asked the Korea Baseball Organization to place Chirinos on waivers.

Chirinos contributed to the Twins' championship run last year, going 13-6 with a 3.31 ERA. This season, however, hampered by injury and other setbacks, he managed only eight appearances, finishing 2-3 with a 6.68 ERA.


dandy@heraldcorp.com