The Doosan Bears announced on Thursday that they have extended their contract with pitcher Wes Benjamin through July 1.
The Doosan Bears announced Thursday they have extended their contract with temporary injury replacement pitcher Wes Benjamin. Benjamin agreed to a new six-week deal, which runs through July 1, at US$50,000, the Bears said. The Bears gave Benjamin his first six-week contract on April 6, asking the American left-hander to fill in for injured starter Chris Flexen.
Since 2024, the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) has been allowing teams to sign short-term replacements for foreign players who are sidelined for at least six weeks. Hours after his new deal was announced, Benjamin pitched his best game of the year, twirling eight shutout innings against the NC Dinos for a 1-0 victory at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul. He improved to 1-3 and lowered his ERA from 4.10 to 3.15.
The left-hander previously pitched for another KBO club, the KT Wiz, from 2022 to 2024. He went 31-18 with a 3.74 ERA in 74 starts there. Flexen, who has been out since early April with a rotator cuff injury, isn't expected back until July, according to the Bears.
