On Thursday, Mel Rojas Jr. etched his name into Korea Baseball Organization history books by launching his 175th career home run, becoming the all-time leader in homers by a foreign player. The historic blast came off Kiwoom Heroes pitcher Hyun-woo Jung, pushing Rojas past Tyrone Woods—an icon in Korean baseball.
Woods, widely regarded as one of the greatest foreign sluggers in both the KBO and Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball, held the record for 23 years. Over five dominant seasons in Korea, Woods hit .294/.393/.574 with 174 home runs, never falling below the 25-HR mark in a single season.
Now, Rojas Jr., a Dominican-American outfielder, holds the crown.
Rojas began his professional career in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization, selected in the third round of the 2010 MLB Draft. He played 837 games in the minor leagues, posting a .258/.325/.376 line with 46 home runs over eight seasons. It was in Korea where Rojas broke out.
He joined the KT Wiz in 2017 and quickly became a centerpiece of their offense. Twice he topped 40 home runs, with his peak season coming in 2020—a year where he was crowned KBO MVP, where he crushed 47 homers, batted .349/.417/.680, and drove in 135 runs.
Following a brief stint in Japan’s NPB and the Liga Mexicana de Beisbol, Rojas returned to KT Wiz in 2024 and resumed his elite production, hitting .329/.421/.568 with 32 home runs and 112 RBIs. Although his numbers have dipped in 2025 (.259/.347/.440 with 11 HR), the now 35-year-old remains a vital presence in the lineup.
Rojas’s career numbers in the KBO place him firmly in the conversation as the best foreign hitter in league history. His .316 career batting average is the highest ever for a foreign player with multiple years in the league. He is also just 85 hits away from becoming the KBO’s all-time hits leader among foreign players.
While he never reached the major leagues, Mel Rojas Jr.’s legacy is secure. He has become a legend in Korea—both for his power and consistency—and now stands atop one of the most revered records in KBO history.
