Elvin Rodriguez Signs With KBO’s Lotte Giants for 2026 Season

The Lotte Giants have planted an early flag in the 2026 KBO landscape. They’ve locked in a trio of foreign veterans whose résumés stretch from MLB bullpens to NPB pennant races.

With Elvin Rodriguez, Victor Reyes, and Jeremy Beasley now under contract, Lotte is doubling down on a proven formula. They’re targeting players who didn’t stick in the majors but have shown they can dominate on the international stage.

Lotte Giants Load Up on International Experience for 2026

In a league where foreign-player signings can swing the pennant race, the Giants moved quickly to solidify both their lineup and pitching staff. These additions aren’t wild gambles; they’re calculated plays on track records built in Japan and South Korea as much as in North America.

Each signing tells a slightly different story. Together, they highlight a clear strategy: find undervalued arms and bats with proven success in Asian leagues and build around their strengths in Busan.

Elvin Rodriguez: From MLB Struggles to KBO Opportunity

Elvin Rodriguez joins Lotte on a one-year, $1 million deal for 2026. He brings a recent surge in value thanks to a standout stint in Japan.

At 27, he’s at that age where pitchers either plateau or break through. The Giants are betting he’s heading in the right direction.

With the Yakult Swallows in 2024, Rodriguez carved out a role as a late-inning weapon. Over 45 1/3 innings as a reliever, he posted a sparkling sub-2.00 ERA, flashing command and composure that just didn’t show up for him in the States.

KBO front offices definitely noticed. By contrast, in MLB, he allowed 55 runs in 52 2/3 innings across stops with the Milwaukee Brewers, Baltimore Orioles, and Detroit Tigers from 2022 to 2025.

In the majors, inconsistency and hard contact kept him from holding a steady job. In Japan, he refined his repertoire and found a rhythm in relief.

For Lotte, Rodriguez profiles as:

Victor Reyes: Ironman Outfielder Remains a Cornerstone

Victor Reyes isn’t new to the Giants. The 31-year-old outfielder re-signed with Lotte for $1.4 million, entering his third straight season with the club.

He’s become one of the KBO’s most durable and productive foreign position players. Since arriving in South Korea, Reyes has delivered exactly what teams crave from an import hitter: reliability, availability, and production.

Over 1275 plate appearances in the KBO, he’s produced a robust .339/.390/.493 slash line. He hasn’t missed a single game in that span, which is honestly pretty rare.

That’s a sharp contrast to his MLB numbers with the Detroit Tigers, where he posted a more modest .264/.294/.379 over a similar sample. In Korea, his contact skills and gap power have played up, and the Giants have been rewarded for their faith.

With his new contract, Reyes’ total guaranteed earnings in South Korea rise to $3.35 million over three years, not counting incentives. For Lotte, this is money well spent on a player who:

Jeremy Beasley: A Bullpen Wild Card with NPB Pedigree

The Giants also deepened their pitching staff by signing right-hander Jeremy Beasley to a $1 million deal. At 30, Beasley brings a blend of MLB experience and established NPB success, though his path hasn’t exactly been straightforward.

Beasley spent the last three seasons with the Hanshin Tigers in Japan, compiling an impressive 2.82 ERA. Still, much of his most recent campaign was spent in the minors—a reminder that roster crunches and role fits can be just as important as performance.

In MLB, Beasley never fully secured a long-term role, bouncing between the majors and minors. Like Rodriguez, he’s shown that his stuff can play at a high level in Japan.

For Lotte, he represents:

Inside Lotte’s Strategy: Betting on Overseas Success, Not MLB Status

These three moves give a pretty clear window into Lotte’s roster-building philosophy. Instead of chasing big-name former MLB stars, the Giants are targeting players who have already proved they can thrive outside of North America.

Rodriguez and Beasley arrive with strong NPB numbers but uneven MLB résumés. Reyes has turned a middling major league track record into elite KBO production.

The common thread is obvious: Lotte prioritizes performance in similar environments over reputation in the majors. It’s a strategy that might not win headlines, but in the KBO, it just might win games.

What It Means for the Giants’ 2026 Outlook

By committing to Rodriguez, Reyes, and Beasley, the Giants have fortified both their lineup and their pitching staff with battle-tested imports.

The strategy feels pretty clear:

Will this approach actually lift Lotte into the KBO’s upper tier in 2026? That answer only comes on the field.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Elvin Rodriguez Signs With KBO’s Lotte Giants