2.9 billion Jackpot KIA's 1st starter got his nails, I can't believe he broke ML's will...I'm glad to see the Tigers fans again

Nov 26, 2025

A match between KIA and Samsung held at Kia Champions Field in Gwangju on the 10th. KIA's nail roars after overcoming the crisis of a full base run with two outs in the fifth inning. Gwangju =Song Jeong-heon, Reporter Song@sportschosun.com/2025.09.10/

KIA Tigers ace James Nail will remain in Gwangju next year.

On the 26th, KIA renewed its contract with foreign pitcher James Nail (born 1993) for a total of 2 million dollars (about 2.9 billion won). With this, Nail has been accompanied by KIA for three years." The terms include a down payment of $200,000, an annual salary of $1.6 million and an option of $200,000. The guaranteed amount is 1.8 million dollars (about 2.6 billion won).

It's a vertical annual salary increase every year. Nail signed a contract with KIA in 2024 for the upper limit of $1 million (about 1.4 billion won) for new players and first made the Korean stage, and re-signed for $1.8 million this year, drawing attention.

For KIA, this treatment was natural. Nail pitched like an ace for two consecutive years, and of course, she was on the radar of the U.S. Major League Baseball team. He had to spend a lot of money to catch Nail, who was struggling to challenge the major leagues, and eventually surpassed $2 million in three seasons.

KIA has been paying attention to the remaining nails since the end of this season. However, Nail showed her willingness to find out about the major league contract and waited long enough. As in last year, Nail chose to stay, judging that the environment and conditions for playing in KIA were better than major league contracts.

The match between the KIA Tigers and the NC Dinos at Kia Champions Field in Gwangju on the 27th. KIA nail is watching the game. Gwangju = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2025.09.27/

SSG-KIA match held at Kia Champions Field in Gwangju on the 2nd. KIA won 7 to 2. Lee Do-hyun, who made his first start win since his debut, is being baptized with nails and Oler's water guns. Gwangju = Reporter Jeong Jae-geun cjg@sportschosun.com /2025.10.2/

Nail, who debuted in the KBO League in 2024, started 26 games that year and recorded 149 ⅓ innings, 12-5 with 138 strikeouts and a 2.53 ERA. In the Korean Series, he started two games and contributed to the team's victory by winning one game, striking out 13 and having a 2.53 ERA.

Nail, who showed off her robustness in the second year and showed off even more powerful pitching, performed her team's first starter duties. This year, he started 27 games and pitched 164 ⅓ innings, 8-4 with 152 strikeouts and 1.07 WHIP (on-base Huh Yong-soo per inning).

Nail recorded an outstanding performance of 20-9 with 290 strikeouts and a 2.38 ERA in two seasons in the KBO League.

Nail thanked the KIA team for sending a good offer. I'm really happy to meet the Tigers fans again, who support me anytime, anywhere. "I'm going to build up my body well during the off-season, and I'll do my best to win the Korean Series once again in Gwangju with my teammates."," he said.

Meanwhile, Kia, which has retained its first starting nail, is speeding up its contract for the second starting foreigners. Struggling with Adam Oller for the second year in a row or signing a stronger new face.