The Samsung Lions have extended the contract of injury replacement pitcher Jack O'Loughlin through May 31. The Australian left-hander initially signed a six-week deal on March 16 to fill in for American starter Matt Manning, who suffered an elbow injury. Lions manager Park Jin-man praised O'Loughlin's recent steadiness.
The Samsung Lions announced the contract extension for Jack O'Loughlin prior to their Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) regular-season game on April 30. The new deal adds US$30,000 and runs through May 31. O'Loughlin had originally signed a six-week contract worth US$50,000 on March 16 to replace Matt Manning, sidelined by an elbow injury from February spring training.
KBO rules since last year allow clubs to acquire temporary replacements for injured foreign players expected out at least six weeks. The Lions signed O'Loughlin after his strong World Baseball Classic performance, where he allowed one unearned run over 6 1/3 innings in two outings, including against South Korea.
In six KBO starts, O'Loughlin is 0-2 with a 4.50 ERA, 27 strikeouts and 12 walks in 28 innings. After early struggles, including an ejection on April 18 against the LG Twins for hitting a batter in the head after 3 1/3 scoreless innings, he delivered six innings of one-run ball with eight strikeouts against the SSG Landers on April 23.
"O'Loughlin has been excellent, and if he can build on this, we may keep him around for the entire season," Lions manager Park Jin-man said in pregame media availability. "He had some ups and downs earlier in the year, but he has steadied himself." On Wednesday, he held the Doosan Bears to three runs over six innings for his second straight quality start but took the loss in a 4-0 defeat. His 3.24 FIP suggests unluckiness and defensive issues behind him.
