(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Infielder David MacKinnon signed with the Samsung Lions for the 2024 Korean Baseball Organization regular season for $900,000 in salary and $100,000 signing bonus contract for one year in South Korea, Yoo Jee-ho of Yonhap News Agency South Korean-English news media reported on December 15.
MacKinnon, 29, was born in Easton, Mass and will play in his second professional season in Asia during the 2024 regular season since playing last season with the Seibu Lions in Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan during 2023.
In 2023, MacKinnon played in 127 games batting .259 with 514 plate appearances recording 120 hits, 17 doubles, two triples, 15 home runs, 50 RBI, 48 walks, 91 strikeouts, and a .728 OPS.
MacKinnon only played one season in Major League Baseball in 2023 with the Oakland Athletics and Los Angeles Angels during his professional career. MacKinnon made his MLB debut on June 18, 2022 with the Angels.
He played in 22 games in the big leagues during 2022, hitting .140 with 57 plate appearances recording seven hits, six RBI, six walks and 17 strikeouts. MacKinnon was designated for assignment from the Angels on August 2, 2022 until the Athletics claimed him off waivers on August 5, 2022.
MacKinnon was called up to the Athletics from Triple-A Las Vegas on August 16, 2022 and played in six games with the organization until he was sent down to Vegas on August 28, 2022.
MacKinnon played with Triple-A Salt Lake of the Angels organization and Triple-A Vegas in 76 games during 2022 hitting .318 with 346 plate appearances recording 92 hits, 24 doubles, four triples, 15 home runs, 54 RBI, 49 walks, 63 strikeouts, and a 1.001 OPS.
MacKinnon spent most of his career with the Angels organization since he was drafted in the 32nd round of the 2017 MLB Amateur Draft out of the University of Hartford after his senior season.
In his nine seasons at all levels, MacKinnon has played in 824 games with 3,452 plate appearances batting .303 smacking 889 hits, 172 doubles, 12 triples, 59 home runs, 407 RBI, 35 stolen bases, 421 walks, 522 strikeouts, and a .824 OPS.
Yoo also reported on December 14, the signing of former Seibu Lions left-handed pitcher Dietrich Enns heading to South Korea to play for the defending 2023 Korean Series champion LG Twins during the 2024 KBO regular season. Enns will earn $1 million for his 1-year contract which will include $600,000 between his salary, $300,000 signing bonus and $100,000 with incentives.
Enns, 32, was born in Frankfort, Ill. and was drafted in the 19th round of the 2012 MLB June Amateur Draft to the New York Yankees out of Central Michigan University after his sophomore season and elected to sign.
Enns has played 13 seasons at all levels during his professional career in 307 games he has 125 starts posting a 92-63 record alongside a 3.11 ERA throwing 1,199.1 innings allowing 1,025 hits, 414 earned runs, 99 home runs, 426 walks, 1,106 strikeouts and a 1.210 WHIP.
Last season, Enns split between the Lions farm league team and the main club during 2023 playing in 23 games posting a 7-10 record with a 3.59 ERA throwing 120.1 innings allowing 107 hits, 48 earned runs, nine home runs, 39 walks, 99 strikeouts, and a 1.213 WHIP.
In 2022 in his first season with the Seibu Lions, Enns went 10-7 with a 2.94 ERA in 23 appearances and threw 122.1 innings allowing 103 hits, 40 earned runs, 14 home runs, 45 walks, 92 strikeouts, and a 1.210 WHIP.
Enns during his career played two seasons in MLB with the Minnesota Twins in 2017 and the Tampa Bay Rays in 2021 in his professional career.
During his two seasons in MLB, Enns went 2-0 posting a 3.42 ERA in 11 appearances and one start throwing 26.1 innings allowing 24 hits, 10 earned runs, three home runs, seven walks, 27 strikeouts, and a 1.177 WHIP.
The 2024 KBO regular season will start on March 23. None of the 10 teams in the league have yet to announce their regular season schedule. All 10 teams will report to training camp during the middle of January.
