'I chose reason over my heart'SG I go with Elias. Say goodbye to Shirakawa

Jul 02, 2024

(from left) Shirakawa Keisho-Loenis Elias. Sports Chosun DB

We finally made a decision. SSG Landers is accompanied by Roenis Elias. He chose to say goodbye to his replacement player, Kisho Shirakawa.

The SSG club decided to terminate the contract with Shirakawa, a foreign player who replaced the injury on the 2nd," the official announcement said. SSG added, `We checked the physical condition and skills of Elias, a foreign pitcher, through six weeks of rehabilitation and two Futures appearances, and decided that we were more competitive in strengthening the starting lineup in the second half, including the advantages of left-handers and abundant starting experience.'

The SSG squad is currently going down to Changwon to host three consecutive away games during the week against the NC Dinos. Both Shirakawa and Elias accompanied SSG on the away trip to Changwon. The final decision was made on the 1st, but even if Shirakawa's contract was terminated, there was a possibility of taking the mound in the bullpen. In addition, Elias was also preparing for the possibility of starting against NC.

SSG conveyed its intention to terminate the contract to Shirakawa, who is accompanying him to the away game in Changwon, and today the team plans to present a special gift to Shirakawa Keisho as a thank you for his performance. Elias is scheduled to start against Changwon NC on the 3rd.

The game between the Doosan Bears and SSG Landers at Jamsil Stadium on the 29th. SSG Shirakawa Keisho and Kim Kwang-hyun are watching the game while talking. Jamsil = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2024.06.29/

Meanwhile, SSG hired Shirakawa on May 22 after Elias suffered an internal oblique muscle injury. It was the first contract since the introduction of the injury replacement foreign player system in the KBO League.

Shirakawa, from Tokushima Prefecture, Japan, has been a pitcher for the Tokushima Indigo Sox, a strong team in the Japanese Independent League. After graduating from high school, he was not nominated by a Japanese professional club, and was playing in an independent league, looking at his potential.

SSG, which had been keeping an eye on Shirakawa, immediately pushed for a contract when Elias was injured and it was completed. He is the seventh Japanese pitcher to enter the KBO League in 13 years since Ken Kadokura, who played for the Samsung Lions in 2011.

Although he was skeptical of whether he would be able to succeed in the overseas professional stage, Shirakawa left a good chance. He went 2-2 with a 5.09 ERA in five starts in SSG uniforms. It may not be impressive in terms of the performance itself, but it was definitely powerful when looking at the pitching. The power of the fastball, which marks a maximum of 150 kilometers or more, was good and the angle of the breaking ball was good, making it difficult to attack easily. Club officials also said, `I think I'll be very excited if I finish adapting in the environmental aspect"He also expressed expectations.

The KBO League match between SSG and Kiwoom held at SSG Landers Field in Incheon on the 11th. SSG starter Elias, who is being replaced with a runner left in the seventh inning. Incheon = Song Jeong-heon Reporter's songs@sportschosun.com/2024.04.11/

In particular, it received a lot of love from SSG fans. Shirakawa, a 23-year-old young pitcher born in 2001, was nicknamed 'Potato' by fans for his favorable impression. Shirakawa was also embarrassed by the unexpected popularity and showed that he was getting along well with the team's players. Despite being from an independent league, even coach Lee Sung-yong had to learn with his solid routine and perfect self-management"It was enough to say.

However, Lee's final choice was Elias. In the end, the choice seems to have been tilted because he is a pitcher with a clear class and experience. Elias, born in 1988, is relatively old and has a lot of minor injuries, so there are concerns about his physical condition, but there was a lot of concern that if he chooses Shirakawa from SSG's point of view, he will have to use a replacement card right away. It was necessary to prepare for the event that Robert Duggar had already used up one sheet while changing it to Drew Anderson.

youll@sportschosun.com