The Kiwoom Heroes signed former big league infielder Keston Hiura for the remainder of the 2026 season and waived outfielder Trenton Brooks. Hiura drew interest from Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball before joining the Heroes. His contract guarantees $400K for the rest of 2026, with an additional $100K available through incentives. Hiura was a 2017 ninth overall pick by the Brewers and has struggled in the majors with high strikeout rates, posting a .235/.314/.442 line and 101 wRC+ largely driven by a strong 2019 rookie season. He has been more productive in Triple-A, hitting .291/.392/.563 with 103 home runs and a 27.8% strikeout rate. Brooks had limited major league action and has been a .279/.382/.472 hitter in Triple-A.
"The Kiwoom Heroes of the Korea Baseball Organization announced this week that they've signed former big league infielder Keston Hiura for the remainder of the 2026 season. They've waived another former big leaguer, outfielder Trenton Brooks, in a corresponding move. Hiura drew interest from Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball as well before signing with the Heroes. The GSI client will be guaranteed $400K for the rest of the 2026 season and has another $100K available to him via incentives."
"Hiura, 29, was the ninth overall pick by the Brewers back in 2017. He ranked as a top prospect for years and has a huge track record in the upper minors but has struggled with high strikeout rates in the majors. He still sports a .235/.314/.442 line in the majors (101 wRC+), but the vast majority of that production came in a standout rookie showing back in 2019, when he hit .303/.368/.570 with 19 homers (and a 30.7% strikeout rate) in 348 plate appearances. In parts of five seasons since, Hiura has batted .203/.289/.381 while striking out at a 38.3% clip."
"Big league struggles notwithstanding, Hiura has repeatedly shown himself to be a force against Triple-A pitching. He's played parts of six seasons at the top minor league level and laid waste to Triple-A pitching, slashing .291/.392/.563 with 103 round-trippers, 77 doubles and five triples in 1684 plate appearances (392 games). Strikeouts have still been an issue, but not to the same level as in the majors. He's fanned in 27.8% of his Triple-A plate appearances and drawn walks at a 10.3% clip. Hiura was drafted as a second baseman but has played more first base and left field in recent years."
"Brooks, 30, appeared briefly in each of the past two major league seasons, totaling 72 plate appearances between the Padres and Giants. He hit .136/.208/.212 in that tiny sample but is a .279/.382/.472 hitter in his career at Triple-A. He struggled to find his footing in South Korea"
Read at MLB Trade Rumors
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]