 |
| Photo: Provided by the Samsung Lions |
[Sports Today reporter Lee Sang-pil] The Samsung Lions announced on March 16 that they have signed left-hander Jack O’Rorklin as the foreign player to replace Matt Manning, who has been ruled out for the season with an acute elbow ligament tear.
After Manning’s sudden injury in late February, the Lions quickly evaluated candidates and settled on O’Rorklin, who pitched for Australia’s national team in the WBC. The club prioritized his immediate availability and the fact that he’s maintained game readiness.
The contract is a six-week deal worth $50,000 (approximately 66,666,667 KRW). O’Rorklin said he plans to use the short-term opportunity to prove himself.
The 26-year-old stands 196 cm (6 ft 5 in) and weighs 101 kg (223 lb). At the major-league level, he has appeared in four games with no decisions, posting a 4.66 ERA and a 1.86 WHIP. In 139 minor-league appearances (78 starts), he is 19-26 with a 4.33 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP.
In the 2026 WBC, O’Rorklin threw 6.1 scoreless innings across two appearances for Australia. He tossed three shutout innings against Taiwan and worked 3.1 innings against South Korea, allowing one unearned run.
Besides a four-seam fastball, O’Rorklin mixes several off-speed offerings and is expected to take a spot in the Lions’ starting rotation.
After completing the deal, O’Rorklin said, \”The last few days have been really exciting. I’ve heard a lot about the KBO from international players who have played here. I also pitched on the same Australian team as left-hander Lee Seung-hyun. I want to help the Samsung Lions win, and I hope fans will keep an eye on me.\”
[Sports Today reporter Lee Sang-pil sports@stoo.com]
「The closest, most fun news ⓒ Sports Today」
Most Commented