Daegu: The Samsung Lions have expanded their pitching roster by signing American right-hander Matt Manning and Japanese right-hander Yura Miyaji. The team announced the additions on Monday, bolstering their lineup with these new foreign-born talents.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Manning, aged 27, has agreed to a one-year contract valued at US$1 million. Manning has experience in 50 major league games, all as a starting pitcher for the Detroit Tigers between 2021 and 2024. With a career record of 11-15 and a 4.43 ERA over 254 innings, Manning has accumulated 178 strikeouts against 85 walks. During the 2025 season, he played in Triple-A for both the Tigers and the Philadelphia Phillies after a mid-season trade, recording a 2-3 record and a 6.47 ERA in 55 2/3 innings.

The Lions highlighted Manning's pitching capabilities, noting his ability to reach an average speed of 152 kph with his four-seam fastball, complemented by a diverse range of pitches including a sweeper, curveball, splitter, and slider.

Yura Miyaji will join the Lions as their Asian quota player for the 2026 season, earning a salary of $100,000 with an additional $50,000 available through incentives. This move comes in line with the KBO's new rule allowing teams to sign an extra foreign-born player from Asia or Australia.

Miyaji's background includes a stint with the Kufu Hayate Ventures Shizuoka in the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) minor league during 2025. Despite not having pitched in the top NPB competition, Miyaji has progressed from amateur baseball to the independent league and then to the NPB minors. He concluded the 2025 season with a 0-2 record and a 2.88 ERA over 25 innings, striking out 31 batters and walking 11. Miyaji's pitching arsenal includes a four-seam fastball, splitter, slider, and curveball, with his fastball reaching speeds of up to 158 kph.

The Lions anticipate that with Manning and the returning ace Ariel Jurado leading the starting rotation, Miyaji will significantly enhance their bullpen strength.