On June 18, 2025, the Samsung Lions of the Korean Baseball Organization announced the addition of 29-year-old right-handed pitcher Gerson Garabito. Garabito will replace the recently released Denyi Reyes, who was cut with an injury designation.
Garabito, from San Cristobal, Dominican Republic, was released by the Texas Rangers last week after making his intention to sign in the KBO known. He did not have to wait long to find a new home. He joins a 38-33 Lions squad that is four games behind the Hanwha Eagles for first place.
Garabito made his MLB debut with the Texas Rangers last season and posted a 4.78 ERA in 26 1/3 innings. This year, he struggled in three games, allowing eight earned runs in eight innings.
Garabito was originally signed out of the Dominican Republic by the Kansas City Royals in 2012. He had success pitching in the Dominican Summer League and Arizona League, and he advanced to Double-A in Kansas City before the COVID-19 pandemic.
He was released and signed with the San Francisco Giants on a minor league deal but elected free agency after one season in Triple-A.
He spent some time out of baseball, pitching only in winter ball, before signing with the Rangers in December 2023. He worked as both a starter and long reliever and made it to the major leagues. Since his debut, he has struggled and is now looking to reinvent himself in the KBO.
Denyi Reyes was a very reliable starter last season for the Lions as he went 11-4 with a 3.81 ERA. Garabito will hope to slot in the back of the Lions’ rotation behind ace Won Tae-in, righty Choi Won-tae, and lefty Lee Seung-hyun. He joins first baseman Lewin Diaz as the only two Dominican-born players on the team.
WBN KBO: https://worldbaseball.com/league/south-korea/
Photo: Texas Rangers starting pitcher Gerson Garabito throws in the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
