The NC Dinos announced Thursday they have acquired former big league slugger Matt Davidson.

The Dinos said Davidson, 32, has signed a one-year deal worth up to US$1 million, the maximum amount allowed for first-year foreign players in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO). Davidson will make $560,000 in salary, $140,000 in signing bonus and up to $300,000 in incentives.

A first-round pick by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2009 draft, the right-handed hitting infielder made his big league debut with the Dbacks in 2013. But it was with the Chicago White Sox where Davidson had the most success, following a 2013 trade.

He belted a career-high 26 home runs in 118 games in 2017, and followed that up with 20 homers in 123 games in 2018.

Davidson bounced around three clubs, including the Dbacks, from 2020 to 2022, without ever reaching the heights of 2017-2018 seasons. Davidson spent the 2023 season in Japan with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp, batting .210/.273/.425 with 19 home runs and 44 RBIs in 112 games.

The Di
nos said Davidson will bring a ton of power to their lineup, as he replaces Jason Martin as their lone foreign hitter. Martin had 17 homers and knocked in 90 runs in 118 games last year but the Dinos decided to go in a different direction.

KBO teams can sign a maximum three foreign players, with no more than two pitchers. The Dinos now have their three non-Korean players in place for next year, having earlier signed pitchers Daniel Castano and Kyle Hart.

Source: Yonhap News Agency