Seoul: The NC Dinos signed American pitcher Drew VerHagen as a short-term injury replacement for starter Riley Thompson on Saturday. The Dinos announced that VerHagen has agreed to a six-week deal, with a guaranteed salary of US$70,000, and the possibility of earning an additional $30,000 through incentives.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) has allowed clubs to sign temporary replacement players for foreign imports who are sidelined for at least six weeks due to injuries since last year. Riley Thompson, who was set to start on Saturday for the opening day of the 2026 season, suffered an oblique injury on Wednesday. The Dinos stated that Thompson, who tied for the KBO lead with 17 wins and ranked third with 216 strikeouts last year, will be out for a minimum of six weeks.

VerHagen, aged 35, initially signed a one-year contract worth $900,000 with another KBO club, SSG Landers, in December last year. However, the Landers terminated the contract in January after VerHagen failed his physical. A fourth-round pick by the Detroit Tigers in the 2012 major league draft, VerHagen has also spent time playing in Japan for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters.

In his major league career, VerHagen has participated in 206 games, including eight starts, compiling an 18-12 record with a 4.98 ERA, 234 strikeouts, and 115 walks over 281 2/3 innings. His role in Triple-A differed significantly, with 56 of his 76 appearances as a starter, achieving a 20-20 record with a 3.98 ERA, 258 strikeouts, and 103 walks in 323 1/3 innings.

During his four seasons in Japan, VerHagen went 18-19 with a 3.68 ERA, 278 strikeouts, and 78 walks over 283 1/3 innings. The Dinos have confirmed that VerHagen will join the team on Sunday.