Kia Tigers Fail to Extend Contract for Injury Replacement Aderlin Rodriguez

The Kia Tigers announced on June 12 they had failed to sign injury replacement player Aderlin Rodriguez to a contract extension. The Dominican infielder cited personal reasons for declining a new deal with the Korea Baseball Organization club. Rodriguez signed a six-week contract on May 4 to replace outfielder Harold Castro, who was sidelined with a quad injury.

KBO rules allow clubs to sign temporary replacements for foreign players sidelined for at least six weeks, and Rodriguez's deal expired after the June 12 game. Rodriguez made an immediate impact in the Tigers lineup. He hit four home runs in his first four KBO games, and those four consecutive home runs set a new league record.

573 slash line. The Tigers said Rodriguez would play in the June 12 game, his final KBO appearance. In the 32 games since Rodriguez's KBO debut on May 5, the Tigers hit 44 home runs, the most in the KBO.

Harold Castro had two home runs and 16 RBIs in 23 games before his injury. Castro will begin a rehab assignment in the minors on June 13, the Tigers said.