The Samsung Lions part ways with foreign pitcher Albert Suarez (34), who is out with an injury. Taylor Widener (29), who played for the NC Dinos, will wear the blue uniform.

Suarez injured his left calf in the top of the first inning of a 0-0 home game against the LG Twins at Samsung Lions Park in Daegu on April 6 while diving into first base coverage.

After a medical examination, he was told that his left gastrocnemius (calf muscle) was damaged by about 12 centimeters. The recovery time is about four weeks. He could return at the end of the season.

Last year in a Samsung uniform, Suarez went 6-8 with a 2.49 ERA (4th) in 30 games last year. While he didn’t get many wins, he was a reliable starter in the rotation, throwing 173⅔ innings and earning himself a new contract.

This season, Suarez has been a steady, if not overwhelming, presence in the rotation, going 4-7 with a 3.92 ERA in 19 games.

He was returning to his dominant form, most notably pitching eight scoreless innings against the SSG Landers on March 25, before injury struck.

In the end, Suarez packed his bags with a 10-15 record and a 3.04 ERA in 49 games over two seasons in the KBO.

The team was in last place for eight days and desperately needed to turn things around.

To make matters worse, Choi Chae-heung, a left-handed starter who returned to the team from Sangsung, was also removed from the roster on the ninth due to his poor performance. With two starting spots up for grabs, the team could no longer delay signing a new foreign player.

Eventually, Samsung’s eyes turned to Widener, who had recently parted ways with NC. He recently checked his physical condition, and the recruitment process began in earnest.

Widener was placed on waivers on April 4.

According to Article 95 of the KBO’s rules, “A team that wishes to transfer a player contract for a waiver player must apply to the commissioner for the transfer of the player contract within seven days from the date of the waiver announcement. If no transfer application is made, the player’s status will be changed to free agent as of the day after the seventh day in accordance with Article 99. Samsung is expected to announce the details of the deal on the 10th.

Widener has reportedly delayed his departure even after parting ways with NC, staying in Masan to negotiate with Samsung.

In 11 games in an NC uniform this season, Widener is 4-2 with a 4.52 ERA in 61⅔ innings pitched.

In 49 career major league games (13 starts), Widener is 2-3 with a 4.26 ERA in three starts. He has a fastball that tops out at 155 mph and a slider-changeup-curveball combination.

His start with NC was bumpy. He suffered back pain in an exhibition game and didn’t make the team until late May. He had some ups and downs as the aftermath of the injury threw his balance off. In the four games in July, he pitched 4⅓ innings, 6 innings, 4 innings, and 6 innings.

Busy with the ‘five-way fight’, NC eventually decided that they needed a starter who could steadily fill the starting rotation. After seeing Widener’s poor performance against the Hanwha Eagles on March 22, when he gave up three runs in four innings, the decision was made to replace him. NC brought in durable left-hander Tanner Tully as a replacement. 먹튀검증

There’s plenty to be excited about for Samsung, too.

Tully has pitched brilliantly in the two games since NC decided to part ways. After giving up two runs in six innings against KT on March 28, he rebounded with two consecutive quality starts against Lotte on March 3, giving up one run on four hits in seven innings with eight strikeouts and no walks.

He was not able to continue with Widener in the NC as it was already decided that he would be replaced. Samsung made the decision, hoping that the last appearance in the NC would be the real Widener.