Blue Jays: Outfielder Jared Hoying signs deal with KT Wiz

Brought in earlier this season to help with the Blue Jays outfield depth, Ohio product Jared Hoying has signed a contract with the KT Wiz out of the KBO League in South Korea for the remainder of the 2021 season.

Prior to signing a minor league contract with the Blue Jays, Hoying was a 10th round pick of the Texas Rangers back in 2010 and only made a few appearances in the majors dating back to 2016. He most recently played in the KBO with the Hanwha Eagles from 2018 to 2020, posting a .282/.343/.490 line with 52 home runs, 204 RBI, and a .833 OPS. He was waived by the team last year.

For his major league career, Hoying has 129 plate appearances and currently sports a .215/.256/.281 slash line with one home run, 12 RBI, and 32 strikeouts.

Former Blue Jays outfielder Jared Hoying has signed a contract with the KT Wiz of the KBO League in South Korea for the remainder of the season.

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In two games with the Blue Jays this season, Hoying failed to register a hit in three plate appearances with zero walks and zero strikeouts. He spent the majority of his time with the Buffalo Bisons in AAA, collecting nine hits in 28 plate appearances, finishing with a .333 batting average alongside three home runs and seven RBI.

To make room for outfielder George Springer and RHP Jacob Barnes on the active roster, Hoying was outrighted to the Buffalo Bisons on June 22 and elected for free agency rather than be sent back to the minor leagues.

The move to become a free agent was a bit surprising but it appears that Hoying wanted to either test the waters for another team willing to give him a shot in the majors or he potentially had a deal lined up to head back to the KBO where he will most likely receive regular playing time similar to his 2018-2020 seasons.

He will now head back to Korea to finish the season with the KT Wiz, who currently sit in first place in the standings with a 40-27 record. The financials of the deal were not disclosed, but the contract is for the remainder of the season.

All the best to Jared Hoying, we hardly knew ye.