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KT, which has decided to break up with Anthony Alford, its main left fielder, is looking for a new foreign hitter.

The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) announced on Nov. 30 the "2024 Withheld Player List." Among them, KT excluded foreign hitter Alford from the list. During last year's season, Alford joined the Wizards as an alternative foreign player, recording a batting average of 0.288 with 29 homers, 120 RBIs and 22 stolen bases in 213 games, a .359 on-base percentage, and a .475 slugging percentage.

While playing full-time this season, Alford had 142 hits, 15 homers, 70 RBIs and 17 stolen bases with a batting average of 0.289, an on-base percentage of 0.357, and a slugging percentage of 0.456 in 133 games. His on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS) over the past two years was also quite good at 0.834 overall. However, unstable defense and poor performance in this year's postseason (batting average of 0.133 in 10 games) were cited as reasons for his contract failure to be renewed.

KT's radar is still focused on outfielders. However, the team is searching for a player who can support its defense capability to some extent. "There was also a request from the field. We are closely monitoring defense," KT's general manager Na Do-hyeon said in a telephone interview with Sports Chunchu on Dec. 4.

"We are also closely monitoring the ongoing Major League Baseball (MLB) winter meetings," General Manager Na said, adding, "In the process of players' serial movements, attractive players sometimes come to the market."

KT, which is seeking to find new foreign batters, wants to continue its partnership with the ace duo. Right-hander William Cuevas and left-hander Wes Benjamin jointly won 27 games in the regular season this year, serving as pillars of the team. "We just started negotiations with the two players," Na said.