Changwon: The NC Dinos announced their signing of U.S. minor league pitcher Riley Thompson on Sunday. The 28-year-old right-hander has agreed to a one-year deal worth up to US$900,000. His contract includes a guaranteed salary of $520,000, a signing bonus of $130,000, and potential incentives totaling $250,000. According to Yonhap News Agency, Thompson was an 11th-round selection by the Chicago Cubs in the 2018 major league draft and has spent the past five seasons in the minor leagues without making an appearance in the major leagues. Most recently, he played for the Iowa Cubs, the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs, where he recorded a 9-12 record with a 5.82 ERA in 59 games over two years. During this period, he made 34 starts and achieved 177 strikeouts in 188 2/3 innings. The NC Dinos expressed confidence in Thompson's "competitive fire and strikeout ability," highlighting his proficiency with both his fastball and curveball. The team is looking to strengthen its pitching roster following the 2024 season, where Kyle Hart and Eric Jokisch were their two foreign pitchers. With Thompson set to replace Jokisch, the Dinos also aim to retain Hart, who led the Korea Baseball Organization with 182 strikeouts and ranked second in the league with a 2.69 ERA.