{
  "id": 19585220,
  "title": "LG Twins bring back slugger Dean on record contract for foreign hitter",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/12/lg-twins-bring-back-slugger-dean-on-record-contract-for-foreign-hitter",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-12T02:12:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times-koreatimes",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/sports/20261112/lg-twins-bring-back-slugger-dean-on-record-contract-for-foreign-hitter"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The LG Twins have signed their American outfielder Austin Dean to a record-breaking contract for a foreign player in South Korean baseball, the club announced on Thursday. The one-year deal, worth $2 million, surpasses the previous high of $1.8 million previously agreed upon by Mel Rojas Jr. and Guillermo Heredia in 2025. Dustin Nippert holds the top spot as the highest-paid foreign player, earning $2.1 million in 2017. During the 2026 season, Dean participated in all 144 games, shattering the franchise record with 41 home runs to become the team's leading hitter. He finished third overall in the league with 41 homers and had a high on-base plus slugging percentage of 1.062. Dean's performance included a league-high 127 RBIs, 180 hits, and a .331 batting average. Since joining the LG Twins in 2023, he has been a consistent offensive force, earning the Golden Glove award for first base in both 2023 and 2024, and leading the KBO in several categories in 2024.",
  "summary": "The LG Twins announced Thursday they will bring back their American slugger Austin Dean on the most lucrative deal for a foreign hitter in South Korean baseball history. The Twins said Dean will be back for his fifth season in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) on a new one-year deal worth $2 million. The previous record for the biggest annual salary for a foreign hitter had been $1.8 million,…",
  "key_points": [
    "LG Twins sign Dean to record $2M contract",
    "Dean set franchise home run record with 41 in 2026",
    "Led KBO in RBIs, hits, and batting average in 2026"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Rewarding Austin Dean with a record-breaking deal signals the LG Twins' commitment to securing elite offensive production through long-term investment in their most consistent foreign hitting asset.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Yonhap News",
        "title": "LG Twins bring back slugger Dean on record contract for foreign hitter",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/12/lg-twins-bring-back-slugger-dean-on-record-contract-for-foreign-hitter-19587407",
        "published": "2026-11-12T01:38:33.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}