Bears' Yang Eui-ji becomes 2nd highest-paid player in KBO history | Yonhap News Agency

## Summary
OK SEOUL, March 18 (Yonhap) -- Doosan Bears catcher Yang Eui-ji will earn a record 4.2 billion won (US$2.8 million) this season, becoming the second highest-paid player in Korean baseball, the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) said Wednesday. Yang's pay marks the highest behind the 3 billion-won record set in 2022 by SSG Landers pitcher Kim Kwang-hyun, according to salary data released by the KBO ahead of the 2026 season opener. Doosan Bears catcher Yang Eui-ji (Yonhap) Yang also set a league record for the largest single-year pay increase, rising 2.6 billion won from 2025, breaking the SSG Landers' right fielder Han Yoo-seom's 2.22 billion won jump in 2022. Korea's national sports festival prev Bears' Yang Eui-ji becomes 2nd highest-paid player in KBO history Next Bears' Yang Eui-ji becomes 2nd highest-paid player in KBO history

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SEOUL, March 18 (Yonhap) -- Doosan Bears catcher Yang Eui-ji will earn a record 4.2 billion won (US$2.8 million) this season, becoming the second highest-paid player in Korean baseball, the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) said Wednesday.
Yang's pay marks the highest behind the 3 billion-won record set in 2022 by SSG Landers pitcher Kim Kwang-hyun, according to salary data released by the KBO ahead of the 2026 season opener.
The 38-year-old veteran signed a four-plus-two-year free agent deal worth up to 15.2 billion won with the Bears in November 2022. His pay has climbed sharply from 300 million won in 2023 and 1.6 billion won last year.
Doosan Bears catcher Yang Eui-ji (Yonhap)
Yang also set a league record for the largest single-year pay increase, rising 2.6 billion won from 2025, breaking the SSG Landers' right fielder Han Yoo-seom's 2.22 billion won jump in 2022. He further surpassed the mark for the highest salary by a player in their 21st professional season, previously held by the Landers' Choi Jeong at 1.7 billion won.
KT Wiz pitcher Ko Young-pyo will be the league's second-highest-paid player at 2.6 billion won, followed by Choi Jeong (2.2 billion won). Hanwha Eagles' Ryu Hyun-jin and Lotte Giants' Park Se-woong are tied for fourth at 2.1 billion won each.
Hanwha Eagles' pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin (Yonhap)
The average salary of the 529 registered domestic players in the KBO this season, excluding rookies and foreign athletes, rose 9.1 percent from last year to a record 175.4 million won.
Among clubs, the Landers topped the list in both total player salaries at 12.47 billion won and average pay per player at 207.8 million won, followed by the Bears, LG Twins and the Wiz in the top four.
Among foreign players, Kia Tigers pitcher James Naile will receive the highest salary at $1.8 million. Of the 30 foreign players, 20 are from the United States, followed by Venezuela with five, the Dominican Republic with three, and Cuba and Panama with one each, the KBO said.
sshim@yna.co.kr
(END)
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Bears' Yang Eui-ji becomes 2nd highest-paid player in KBO history

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## Expert Analysis

### Merits
N/A

### Areas for Consideration
- Of the 30 foreign players, 20 are from the United States, followed by Venezuela with five, the Dominican Republic with three, and Cuba and Panama with one each, the KBO said. sshim@yna.co.kr (END) Keywords #KBO #salary data Articles with issue keywords Most Liked 16th Gwangju Biennale: You must change your life Ex-U.S. officials voice concerns about Trump gov't 'vacating' deterrence assets from Indo-Pacific amid Iran war Four decades of Damien Hirst on display at MMCA, from shark to cherry blossoms Police vow zero tolerance for terror threats against BTS comeback concert (2nd LD) N.

### Implications
- OK SEOUL, March 18 (Yonhap) -- Doosan Bears catcher Yang Eui-ji will earn a record 4.2 billion won (US$2.8 million) this season, becoming the second highest-paid player in Korean baseball, the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) said Wednesday.
- KT Wiz pitcher Ko Young-pyo will be the league's second-highest-paid player at 2.6 billion won, followed by Choi Jeong (2.2 billion won).
- Among foreign players, Kia Tigers pitcher James Naile will receive the highest salary at $1.8 million.
- Of the 30 foreign players, 20 are from the United States, followed by Venezuela with five, the Dominican Republic with three, and Cuba and Panama with one each, the KBO said. sshim@yna.co.kr (END) Keywords #KBO #salary data Articles with issue keywords Most Liked 16th Gwangju Biennale: You must change your life Ex-U.S. officials voice concerns about Trump gov't 'vacating' deterrence assets from Indo-Pacific amid Iran war Four decades of Damien Hirst on display at MMCA, from shark to cherry blossoms Police vow zero tolerance for terror threats against BTS comeback concert (2nd LD) N.

### Expert Commentary
This article covers won, billion, korea topics. Areas of concern are also raised. Readability: Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.0. Word count: 612.