Kelly, 29, is a former first round draft choice by the Boston Red Sox who made his big league debut with the San Diego Padres in 2012.

He has appeared in 26 major league games for three clubs, most recently with the San Francisco Giants in 2018. He has a 2-11 career record along with a 5.46 ERA.

In the minors, the right-hander has gone 44-48 with a 4.13 ERA in 166 games, including 148 starts.

The Twins said they liked Kelly's starting experience and his ability to command a wide variety of pitches.

KBO teams are each permitted a maximum two foreign pitchers, and Kelly's arrival means the Twins will have to part ways with either Henry Sosa or Tyler Wilson, who manned their rotation in 2018.

Both right-handers put up solid numbers and ranked second and third in the KBO in ERA. In his first KBO season, Wilson went 9-4 in 26 starts with a 3.07 ERA. With a lack of run support, Wilson, 29, lost or got a no-decision in seven starts in which he threw at least five innings and allowed two or fewer earned runs.

Sosa, a 33-year-old in his seventh KBO season, went 9-9 with a 3.52 ERA in 27 starts. Sosa ranked second in the KBO with 181 strikeouts in 181 1/3 innings. (Yonhap)