KT Wiz is preparing for the 2025 season as a strong starting lineup with new faces. William Cuevas, a "long-lived foreigner" who has been in the KBO for seven years this year, will form a one-two punch with Enmanuel de Heissus.바카라사이트

After the end of last season, KT re-signed Cuevas for a total of $1.5 million. Cuevas, who entered the KBO League in 2019, has become KT's ace by winning double-digit wins for two consecutive years, and led his team to its first unified championship in the 2021 season, playing a decisive role in winning the regular season in the No. 1 tiebreaker against the Samsung Lions.

In the 2022 season, he left the team after playing only two games due to injury, but returned to the 2023 season without losing a single game and won the 100% win rate award with an ERA of 2.60. Last year, he pitched in 31 games and recorded 7 wins and 12 losses with an ERA of 4.10. He played in the 19th inning of quality starts (third place in the league) and 173 ⅓ innings, the third-most in the league.

It's been seven years since I've known all about Korean baseball and culture. When I asked Cuevas if she felt that she became a Korean, she said, "I feel that way a lot when my eating habits have changed a lot. Even when I'm eating, she says she wants to eat kimchi with her wife, kimchi stew, and she buys kimchi at home or takes it with her when she goes to another country."

When Cuevas said, "I think I will have an off-season routine," when I met him in Australia, where spring camp is in full swing, he said, "It's different to prepare every year. I'm getting older now, and my physical condition is different every year. When I was young, I did a lot of muscle exercises because I wanted to build strength, but as I get older, I focus on those exercises to be flexible and maintain muscles. In the U.S., I prepared by discussing with my personal trainers."

Ahead of this season, KT broke up with Wes Benjamin, who he had been with for three years, and recruited Heysus, who played for the Kiwoom Heroes. Heysus appeared in 30 games for Kiwoom last season, pitched 171 ⅓ innings, serving as ace with 13 wins, 11 losses and an ERA of 3.68. However, Kiwoom lifted Heysus' hold and KT brought him in.

KT, which sent right-hander Kim Min to SSG Landers in a one-on-one trade and recruited left-hander Oh Won-seok, has moved to FA, but has an experienced and strong starting team of Ko Young-pyo, So Hyung-joon and Oh Won-seok along with Cuevas and Heysus. Manager Lee Kang-chul also said, "There are two left, right, left, under and left-handers, so it's a good choice."

Cuevas already knew Heyesus even before he came to Kiwoom. "I've known him since he was with the Boston Red Sox longer than last year," Cuevas said. "I was preparing to go up to the big leagues from Triple-A because of the age difference, and Heyesus came in as a rookie and rarely met unless it was camp, but it's amazing that we're going to play together at KT as the good relationship continues. I think it's going to be an interesting season."

This year, KT will take the presidency again with its starting lineup led by Cuevas and Heysus. "I don't usually think about personal records or numbers. I tend to check records from August or the second half of the year. I'm just going to think about whether I'm in good shape or not this season as well," Cuevas said.

He added, "If I don't get sick, I can help the team produce results in what they expect. My goal is always to finish the season healthy, and I think that's the biggest goal and work for the team."