Seoul: The Kiwoom Heroes announced Thursday they have signed former major leaguer Stone Garrett as a temporary injury replacement. Garrett, 29, will make US$35,000 as a fill-in for Ruben Cardenas, who will be out for about six weeks due to a flexor injury in his right arm.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) teams are allowed to acquire foreign players on temporary contracts to step in for players sidelined for at least six weeks. Earlier this year, the LG Twins utilized this rule by signing Australian pitcher Coen Wynne to fill a rotation spot for injured Elieser Hernandez. Garrett has played in 118 major league games, most recently appearing in two games for the Washington Nationals in 2024. This season, he played 15 games for the Nationals' Triple-A affiliate, the Rochester Red Wings. The Heroes mentioned that Garrett was preparing for a move to the Mexican league before signing with them.

Garrett enjoyed his best big league season in 2023, when he hit nine homers and drove in 40 runs with a .269/.343/.457 batting line in 89 games for the Nationals. The Heroes expressed that Garrett is precisely the type of right-handed power hitter they needed, noting his ability to also steal bases and cover all three outfield positions.

Garrett is scheduled to arrive in South Korea on Friday. As of Wednesday's games, the Heroes were in last place in the 10-team KBO with a record of 17-45-1 (wins-losses-ties). They are also last in team batting average (.232), runs scored (223), on-base percentage (.301), and slugging percentage (.337).