The Kiwoom Heroes on Monday announced the signing of former MLB infielder Keston Hiura.
The former MLB infielder, who at one time was the Milwaukee Brewers’ No. 1 prospect and the No. 20 prospect in baseball in 2019, burst onto the scene for Milwaukee in 2019 and looked like a future star. In 84 games as a rookie, he hit .303/.368/.570 with 19 home runs and 49 RBIs. Despite the limited sample size, it was by far the best season by a rookie second baseman in Brewers history. Not only was it the best by a rookie second baseman in franchise history, but it was among the best offensive rookie seasons by a second baseman in MLB history. His 139 wRC+ was tied for the best mark ever by a rookie second baseman, while his 138 OPS+ trailed only Jim Viox of the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1913. His 19 home runs were tied for the ninth most ever by a rookie second baseman, but they were the most by a rookie second baseman in fewer than 85 games. It was the type of rookie season that led many to expect he would become one of the premier second basemen in baseball. Instead, 2019 ended up being the peak of his MLB career as a hitter.
In 2020, Hiura’s strikeout rate ballooned to 34.6% before reaching as high as 41.7% in 2022. The high swing-and-miss rate led to him bouncing between Triple-A and MLB before spending all of 2023 with Triple-A Nashville. Despite posting big numbers in Triple-A, he played in only 18 combined MLB games in 2024 and 2025 with the Los Angeles Angels and Colorado Rockies. During that span, he struck out in 37.7% of his at-bats and did not hit a home run. He was released by the Los Angeles Dodgers during spring training this year and remained unsigned until Monday. Now, the American-born infielder will head to the KBO in an attempt to resurrect what once looked like a promising career for the 29-year-old.
While the KBO is a strong league, Hiura’s success in Triple-A should translate well. He owns a career .955 OPS with 103 home runs in Triple-A and a strikeout rate below 28%.
He joins a Kiwoom franchise that once again sits in the basement of the KBO standings. The Heroes finished in last place in 2023, 2024 and 2025 and are there again at 17-26 this season. In recent years, their foreign hitter signings have been disasters. Last season, Ruben Cardenas and Yasiel Puig were the club’s marquee offseason signings, and both struggled significantly. Puig posted a 75 wRC+ with six home runs in 40 games before being released. Cardenas was not much better, posting a 96 wRC+ with seven home runs in 86 games. As a team, Kiwoom finished last in on-base percentage, slugging percentage and runs per game.
Things have been even more dire for the Heroes offensively in 2026. They rank last in home runs, runs per game, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, batting average, strikeouts and stolen bases. Their major signing of former MLB infielder Trenton Brooks also failed to work out. He did not hit a home run and, in 41 games, was the team’s worst overall hitter. He was released and the Heroes made the move for Hiura. For a club desperate for power, Hiura should provide a major boost and could quickly emerge as one of the league’s top hitters.
While Kiwoom will likely still finish near the bottom of the standings, a strong season from Hiura could attract significant interest from both NPB and MLB clubs, with Japan appearing to be the most likely destination for 2027. While his MLB career did not unfold as expected, a move to South Korea could be exactly what he needs to get back on track.
Photo: Milwaukee Brewers’ Keston Hiura hits a walk-off two run home run during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates Monday, August 29, 2022. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
