Suwon: The KT Wiz announced their signing of former major league pitcher Matt Sauer for the 2026 season. The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) club stated that Sauer, 26, agreed to a one-year deal valued at US$950,000, which includes $750,000 in salary and a $200,000 signing bonus.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Sauer, a right-hander, was originally drafted in the second round by the New York Yankees during the 2017 Major League Baseball (MLB) draft. He made his big league debut with the Kansas City Royals in 2024. Sauer began the 2025 season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he posted a 6.37 ERA in 10 outings, including one start, with a 2-1 record over 29 2/3 innings. In Triple-A this year, he had a 5-5 record with a 5.86 ERA in 18 appearances, 17 of which were starts. The Dodgers released Sauer from his minor league contract on Tuesday.

Baseball Savant reports that Sauer utilized a six-pitch mix in MLB this year, comprising a four-seam fastball, cutter, slider, sinker, splitter, and curveball. His fastball averaged 94.2 miles per hour. KT Wiz general manager Na Do-hyun expressed that the team anticipates Sauer to be the new leader of their starting rotation, leveraging his extensive starting experience and diverse range of pitches.

In the KBO, teams can sign a maximum of two foreign-born pitchers, along with an additional player to fill the newly introduced Asian/Australian quota for the 2026 season. The Wiz began the 2025 season with Enmanuel De Jesus and William Cuevas as their foreign pitchers but replaced Cuevas with Patrick Murphy in July. It remains uncertain which pitcher the Wiz will aim to retain for the upcoming year.