The Giants have agreed to a minor-league deal with Korean infielder Jae-gyun Hwang, according to multiple reports. Andrew Baggarly reports that the deal would guarantee $1.5 million plus incentives if Hwang makes San Francisco’s major-league club.
Hwang, 29, was posted last season by the KBO’s Lotte Giants but received no bids and returned to the club for a seventh season. He held a showcase for major-league clubs in late November, and has been consistently linked to the Giants, Brewers and Tigers.
Hwang, who stands 6-foot and weighs 185 lb., is seen primarily as a third baseman, giving San Francisco a depth option alongside Eduardo Nunez, Conor Gillaspie and Ehire Adrianza. Hwang is seen as a significant power threat, as he has hit 26 homers in each of the last two seasons and has hit 114 homers in almost 1,200 career games in the KBO.
Hwang hit .330/.391/.558 with 26 home runs and 104 RBI in 118 games for Lotte last season, and owns a career .285/.349/.433 line for his professional career.