KT Wiz announced on Sept. 9 that it has signed William Cuevas as a replacement for foreign pitcher Bo Schuler for a total of $450,000 (approximately 582 million won).

Cuevas first wore a KT uniform in the 2019 season. In four seasons, he compiled a 33-22 record with a 3.89 ERA in 82 games and 486⅓ innings pitched. In 2021, he pitched well in the tiebreaker against the Samsung Lions and the Korean Series against the Doosan Bears, leading KT to its first overall title in franchise history.

Cuevas parted ways with KT last season due to an elbow injury. He went on to play in the Mexican League and represent Colombia in the 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC). He then signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers and pitched for the Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers before returning to KT a year later.

Cuevas met with the media on Thursday before the team’s 2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League game against SSG Landers at SSG Landers Field in Incheon.

“It’s been a year since I’ve seen my teammates, but when we talked, it felt like I’d never left,” Cuevas said of his return. “I’m ready to play,” he said, “I’m ready to play. I can’t wait to play,” he said.

“After I left KT, I played in the Mexican League. Then I played in the WBC, then the Mexican League, and then I signed with the Dodgers. It feels like 메이저놀이터 a roller coaster to be here again. I can’t believe I’m in Korea.”

Cuevas cited his teammates as the biggest reason he wanted to come back to Korea. “The biggest reason I wanted to come to Korea was my coworkers. My coworkers have always been like family. They help each other a lot, so I always wanted to come here,” he said.

Cuevas pitched out of the bullpen before the game. He threw a total of 32 pitches and checked five pitches: a four-seam fastball, a two-seam fastball, a cutter, a curveball, and a changeup. After watching the bullpen, KT manager Lee Kang-cheol chose Cuevas as the starting pitcher on Sunday against the Suwon Samsung.

KT is currently in ninth place with 23 wins, two ties, and 33 losses. Cuevas’ performance will be crucial to keep their postseason hopes alive. However, Cuevas believes that motivation can be a poison.

“I want to pitch like I normally do,” Cuevas said, “and if you try to do better, it can be a bad thing. I’m going to throw as hard as I normally do,” he said. “I’m going to try to change the atmosphere in the clubhouse and see how the dugout is. There will always be a lot of support. It’s still June. There are a lot of games left. We have a chance to move up. I’m just trying to do my part and pitch the best I can.”