SOUTH KOREA – Former major leaguer Karim Garcia has re-signed with the Lotte Giants of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) for the 2009 season. Garcia helped the Giants reach the post-season for the first time in eight years this past season.

A native of Mexico, the slugger inked a one-year deal for $375,000 including a $100,000 signing bonus. Garcia batted .283 with 30 homers and a league-leading 111 RBIs in his debut during the 2008 campaign.

Lotte fans quickly made Garcia one of the most popular foreign players to ever suit up in the Korean League. He became the only foreign candidate for the Most Valuable Player (MVP) and was the first import to get the most ballots (678,557) for the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) All-Star game.

Source: The Korea Times

Tags: South Korea