Romak re-signs with the KBO's SK Wyverns

After belting 43 home runs and helping the SK Wyverns to a championship, London, Ont., native Jamie Romak, and London Badgers alum, has re-signed with the Korean Baseball Organization (KBO) club. Photo Credit: Yonhap News

By Kevin Glew

Canadian Baseball Network

London, Ont., native Jamie Romak has re-signed with the reigning South Korean baseball champions SK Wyverns.

Set to return for his third season with the club, the Canadian slugger has reportedly inked a one-year deal for $1.3 million (US) -- with $1.05 million in guaranteed salary and a $250,000 team option, according to the Yonhap News Agency.

The deal which was announced on Friday represents a significant raise from Romak’s reported $500,000 salary in 2018.

In 141 games this season, Romak batted a career-high .316 and belted 43 home runs to tie for second in the Korean Baseball Organization (KBO). He also drove in 107 runs and scored 102 runs. In the process, he became the first Wyverns player to bat higher than .300 while also registering at least 40 home runs, 100 RBI and 100 runs in the same season.

His power display in 2018 made him the first Canadian with back-to-back 40-home run campaigns in the professional ranks. For his efforts, he was named the Canadian Baseball Network’s Offensive Player of the Year in foreign or independent ball.

Prior to spending his last two seasons in Korea, Romak played parts of 13 campaigns in the affiliated minor league ranks. He had major league stints with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2014 and the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2015.

Romak’s deal means that the Wyverns will have two Canadians on their roster in 2019. Right-hander Brock Dykxhoorn (Goderich, Ont.) signed a reported one-year, $700,000 (US) contract with the club in mid-November.