Pirela signed a one-year, $600,000 contract Wednesday with the Samsung Lions of the Korea Baseball Organization, the Yonhap News Agency reports.

Pirela was released by the Phillies on Friday in order to sign with a team in Japan, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Pirela was recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Tuesday, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Pirela was traded from the Padres to the Phillies on Saturday in exchange for cash.

Pirela was designated for assignment by the Padres on Monday.

Pirela went 1-for-4 with a walk and three strikeouts in Triple-A El Paso's win over Tacoma on Thursday.

Pirela (oblique) has gone 12-for-30 with five home runs, two doubles, nine RBI and eight runs through the first eight games of his rehab assignment with Triple-A El Paso.

Pirela (oblique) will begin a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A El Paso on Wednesday.

Pirela was placed on the 10-day injured list Wednesday with an oblique strain, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Pirela will start in left field and hit eighth against the Reds on Saturday.