Yonathan Perlaza has signed with the KBO’s Hanwha Eagles. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
By Matthew Tallarini
World Baseball Network
Former Chicago Cubs outfield prospect Yonathan Perlaza will play in South Korea for the Hanwha Eagles during the 2024 Korean Baseball Organization regular season.
Perlaza’s contract is worth $1 million, including a $200,000 signing bonus added onto his $600,000 salary with $200,000 incentives for the 2024 season.
Perlaza elected free agency on November 6 prior to his signing with the Hanwha Eagles.
Perlaza, 25, was born in Paramo Tucani, Venezuela, and has played seven professional seasons with the Cubs since being signed as an international free agent to a minor league contract on Aug. 26, 2015.
Perlaza is currently playing in his second winter league season for the 2023-24 campaign in the Liga Venezolana de Beisbol Profesional with the Águilas del Zulia. In 20 games, he is batting .214 over 82 plate appearances with 15 hits, two doubles, seven RBI, 10 walks, and 16 strikeouts.
Last season, Perlaza was nominated for the MilB.com Organization All-Star with Triple-A Iowa and suited up for 121 games with 543 plate appearances, batting .284 with 131 hits, 40 doubles, three triples, 23 home runs, 85 RBI, 13 stolen bases, 76 walks, 119 strikeouts, and a .922 OPS.
In his 2022 season, Perlaza was awarded the Southern League Postseason All-Star Award with Double-A Tennessee, playing in 124 games with 547 plate appearances and batting .255 with 120 hits, 36 doubles, 3 triples, 23 home runs, 73 RBI, swiping 15 bases, 72 walks, 127 strikeouts, and a .850 OPS.
In seven professional seasons at all affiliate levels and the winter leagues, Perlaza has played in 533 games with 2,262 plate appearances batting .272 recording 540 hits, 139 doubles, 16 triples, 67 home runs, 292 RBI, 69 stolen bases, 244 walks, 511 strikeouts, and a .811 OPS.
The 2024 KBO regular season will start on March 23.