Kium Heroes’ new foreign batsman Ronnie Dawson, 28, is flying high.
Dawson signed with Kiwoom on March 13 as a replacement for foreign hitter Edison Russell. The total amount is $85,000, which is about $184,000 in Korean won. That’s a bargain for a foreign hitter.
Dawson, who was selected by the Houston Astros in the second round (61st overall) of the 2016 MLB First-Year Player Draft, made his major league debut in 2021. In two seasons in the majors, he appeared in four games, going 1-for-8 with a .125 batting average.
In six seasons in the minors, Dawson has played in 641 games, batting .247 with 2352 hits, 581 doubles, 72 home runs, 305 RBIs, and 105 stolen bases.
This season, he played 63 games for Lexington in the independent league and hit .282 with 248 hits, 70 doubles, 13 home runs, 39 RBIs and 13 stolen bases.
There was a lot of skepticism about signing a player who had failed in the majors and was playing in the minors and independent leagues, but for now, it’s working.
Dawson has started eight games since the 22nd against Lotte. He has gotten a hit in every game except for the game against Hanwha on the 25th.
He is batting .448 (13-for-29). He also has two home runs. His OPS (on-base percentage + slugging percentage) is 1.250. He especially shines in scoring position. Dawson is batting .444 (9-for-4) with runners in scoring position.
This is by far the highest batting average among all Kiwoom hitters in the same period. Behind Dawson, Lee Yong-kyu is batting .348 (8-for-23) and Song Sung-moon is batting .303 (10-for-33).
He is also second in slugging percentage at 0.526, behind Kim Tae-jin, who has a 0.625 slugging percentage after three games. Kiwoom manager Hong Won-ki said, “Dawson has been able to handle the wild pitches that Korean pitchers are known for. When I saw him endure Kim Won-joong of the Lotte Giants’ wild pitches, I thought he had a lot of patience,” he said, giving him a thumbs-up.
Dawson has been everything Keum hoped he would be. “He’s more of a five-tool player and has the ability to play offense, defense, and baseball. He has the ability to make good contact with his muscular frame of 188 centimeters and 90 kilograms and a fast swing speed.메이저놀이터
He’s also an atmosphere maker. “Dawson cheers hard in the dugout when the team is scoring, and he brings good energy to the team,” Hong smiled.
Kiwoom’s new foreign batsmen have settled in quickly. Now it’s up to the domestic bats to rebound. “We will rely on each other and hang in there,” says Hong, promising to bounce back from their ninth-place finish.