Lee Bum-ho signs with Japanese club

Korean slugger Lee Bum-ho said Thursday he has signed with the Softbank Hawks to play for the Japanese club from next year, according to the Yonhap News.



"I signed a three-year contract with the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) team for 500 million yen ($5.6 million), including salary and bonus," the 28-year-old infielder said.



Lee was declared a free agent at the end of the 2009 season after playing for the Daejeon-based Hanhwa Eagles for nine years.



He batted .284 this season with 25 homeruns and 79 RBIs. He registered .400 with three homers and seven RBIs in the World Baseball Classic in March.

Lee will become the 12th South Korean baseballer to play in the NPB, following his former teammate Kim Taek-kyun, who signed with NPB`s Lotte Marines last week.