'Goodbye, Kelly!' Today is LG's farewell exhibition "I want to continue my relationship."

Jul 20, 2024

Kacey Kelly, who is happy to hold the flag after winning the Korean Series last year. Sports Chosun DB

LG Twins Casey Kelly will take his last mound as an LG player.

The LG club recently decided to replace Kelly and recruit a new foreign pitcher.

However, the process from the decision to the announcement was not easy. Kelly is a long-term foreigner who has played for LG for six seasons since 2019 and is considered the best foreign pitcher of the club's all time. Last year, he also enjoyed the emotional joy of winning the Korean Series for the first time in 29 years. For so long, he was deeply loved by fans, and Kelly was also famous for his good fan service.

So it was harder to say goodbye. LG said goodbye to Kelly during the game on the 19th. He was originally scheduled to start against Doosan on the 20th, so he asked Kelly again. Kelly's confirmation of his intention was important because he usually had to inform KBO of the starting pitcher the next day after the game the day before.

A game between the LG Twins and the KIA Tigers at Jamsil Stadium on the 9th. LG Kelly is catching her breath. Jamsil = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2024.07.09/

After consulting with his family, Kelly decided to play his last appearance at LG as scheduled. However, Kelly made one request to the club. "Please don't make an official announcement until you make your debut as much as possible" and the club also tried to be as respectful as possible to Kelly, who has been with him for six seasons.

In a meeting with reporters ahead of the match against Doosan on the 20th, manager Yeom Kyung-yeop said, "The decision was made yesterday. I tried not to take Kelly's mound, but after thinking about it, Kelly is a player who has played on our team for more than five years. I was thinking about how to be good at the end for Kelly and discussed with the front desk. It was concluded that it would be best to let him throw if he had an idea. I explained to Kelly in advance that the situation was like this, and I told her that I was trying to make time to say hello to the fans."

Austin Dean and Kelly rejoicing after winning the Korean Series. Sports Chosun DB

Kelly's last appearance will be released 'in order' Coach Yeom Kyung-yeop will try to put Won-tae on standby, but not wait, and will operate the same until he gives three to four points in six innings. In fact, I think it's meaningless to change it right away just because I gave one point, so I'm going to go the same way."

Manager Yeom Kyung-yup, who emphasized Kelly's future offers of instructors, coaches and others to continue the good relationship, said `Kelly has shown behaviors that are not like foreign players for six years. Because I remember those things at LG, I can continue my relationship unlike other foreign players. "A player who can tell other foreign players and young players better than anyone else, and who can tell them advice and experiences."

8th game of the season between LG and Lotte at Jamsil Baseball Stadium on the 15th. LG manager Yeom Kyung-yeop watching the game. Jamsil = Song Jeong-heon Reporter's songs@sportschosun.com/2024.06.15/

Meanwhile, LG will hold a small farewell ceremony with the team and fans who visited the site after the game. It's time to say goodbye to Kelly, who played in striped uniforms for six seasons.

youll@sportschosun.com