The Samsung Lions announced on Sunday, December 28, that they have re-signed their own free agent catcher Kang Min-ho to a two-year contract. The 40-year-old will earn 300 million won in annual salary, plus 200 million won in incentives, and a 1 billion won signing bonus. This marks the first time in Korea Baseball Organization history that a player has signed four free agent deals.
The Samsung Lions announced on Sunday, December 28, 2025, that they have retained their own free agent catcher Kang Min-ho with a two-year contract. The 40-year-old backstop will earn 300 million won ($207,610) in annual salary for each of the next two seasons, with an additional 200 million won possible in incentives annually, and received a 1 billion won signing bonus upfront.
This deal makes Kang the first player in Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) history to sign four free agent contracts. Kang debuted in the KBO with the Lotte Giants in 2004. He first entered free agency in 2014 and stayed with the Giants on a four-year deal. In 2017, as a free agent again, he joined the Lions on another four-year contract. Then, in December 2021, he signed yet another four-year extension with the Lions.
The career leader in games played with 2,496 appearances, Kang had a solid age-40 season in 2025, batting .269 with 12 home runs and 71 RBIs—his 16th consecutive season with at least 10 homers—while providing steady leadership behind the plate for the pitching staff.
"With this deal, I will get to play 10 seasons with the Samsung Lions and I want to help build a dynasty here over the next two years," Kang said. "It means a lot to me to sign my fourth free agent deal."
