Samsung Lions Re-Sign Lewin Díaz and Denyi Reyes

The Samsung Lions of the KBO League have announced the re-signing of first baseman Lewin Díaz and right-hander Denyi Reyes. According to Dan Kurtz ofMyKBO.netand Jiheon Pae, Díaz will receive a $100,000 signing bonus, a $500,000 salary, and $200,000 in incentives, while Reyes will receive a $200,000 signing bonus, a $700,000 salary, and $300,000 in incentives.

Lewin Díaz's Journey
Lewin Díaz, now 28, has had an interesting journey in professional baseball. During his time in North America, he became a popular player despite not getting an extended big league opportunity. He began his major league career with the Miami Marlins, but only got limited chances from 2020 to 2022. After exhausting his options, Díaz was designated for assignment by the Marlins and subsequently moved to the Pirates, Orioles, and Atlanta through waivers or cash trades. The Orioles eventually ran him through waivers and did not call him up in 2023.

Despite his struggles in the majors, where he hit .181/.227/.340, Díaz excelled at the Triple-A level, posting a .258/.340/.479 line over the 2021-2023 seasons. Known for his strong defense at first base, he caught the attention of various teams. In 2024, Díaz moved to the Mexican League and put up impressive numbers, hitting .376/.452/.647 in 75 games. This performance earned him a mid-August deal with the Samsung Lions, where he continued to shine, hitting .282/.331/.518 in 29 games in Korea. This strong showing convinced the Lions to bring him back for another season.

Denyi Reyes's Performance
Denyi Reyes, also 28, has had a similar trajectory as a fringe roster player in affiliated ball. He made three appearances for the Orioles in 2022 and played nine games for the Mets in 2023, posting a 6.26 ERA in 27 1/3 innings. Despite intriguing rate stats in the minors, Reyes struggled with home runs, allowing 47 long balls over 209 1/3 innings from 2021 to 2023, resulting in a 5.59 ERA.

Reyes joined the Samsung Lions for the 2024 season and found a better fit in the groundball-heavy KBO League. He logged 144 innings over 26 starts with a 3.81 ERA, an 18.5% strikeout rate, a 4.9% walk rate, a 62.3% ground ball rate, and allowed only 15 home runs. The Lions were pleased with his performance and have decided to bring him back for the 2025 season.

​With these signings, the Samsung Lions aim to build on their roster strength and continue their success in the upcoming season.