Lotte Giants sign Japanese pitcher Iimura as new Asian quota player

SEOUL, June 18 (Yonhap) -- The Lotte Giants announced Thursday they have signed Japanese pitcher Shota Iimura as their new Asian quota player.

In a corresponding move, the Giants released their ex-Asian quota hurler Masaya Kyoyama.

Iimura, 28, will make US$70,000 for the rest of the season. The right-hander has spent time with Japanese corporate club KMG Holdings and then with Taichung Taiwan Life in the semi-pro Taiwanese league.

The Giants said Iimura can touch 153 kph with his four-seam fastball and his arsenal also includes a slider, curveball, two-seam fastball and splitter.

Iimura posted a league-leading 0.93 ERA over 29 innings in the spring league with his Taiwanese club, the Giants said.

The Giants ranked ninth among 10 teams in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) through Wednesday's action at 26-39-1 (wins-losses-ties). They have the third-highest ERA in the league at 4.74, and their bullpen ERA is the worst at 5.53.

Starting this year, the KBO allowed clubs to sign a player from an Asian country or Australia, in addition to the usual cohort of three foreign-born players.

Kyoyama only pitched 10 2/3 innings over 10 outings for the Giants, going 0-1 with a 7.59 ERA. He allowed 14 hits and nine walks, and last pitched on May 8 before being demoted to the minors.

Kyoyama had a 1-1 record with a 4.67 ERA in nine minor league games.

New Lotte Giants pitcher Shota Iimura poses in the Korea Baseball Organization club's uniform, in this photo provided by the Giants on June 18, 2026. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)