What is the fate of the left-hander with 10 wins for 4 consecutive years who has been running on a 143km plane without jet lag?

Jul 02, 2024

에릭 요키시. Sports Chosun DB

Eric Yokishi who came all the way to Korea. What will happen to the top left-hander, who has won 10 games in the KBO League for four consecutive years.

Yokishi is a player who played four seasons and half of the KBO League. He has played since the 2019 season for the Kiwoom Heroes and said goodbye to the team due to injuries during last year. Grades are above and beyond compliance. He performed well enough in Kiwoom to be called a "special left-hander". In five seasons, he won 56-36 with a 2.85 ERA in 130 games. After 13 wins in the 2019 season, he peaked with 12 wins in 2020 and 16 wins in 2021, and recorded 10 wins in 2022 and 5 wins last year despite the injury. He was one of the best left-handers in the KBO League. Kiwoom also held a grand farewell ceremony for Yokishi last year when he had to find a substitute due to an injury. He invited his family to the ballpark, and Yokishi was a player who had a very unusual and beautiful farewell to his fans by signing autographs, taking commemorative photos, and events with the team after the game.

Since then, the news update on Yokishi has been cut off. There was no news of a transfer to Korea or Taiwan, and there was no talk of a U.S. minor league contract. There were also rumors that he might be taking off his uniform as he was born in 1989 and considering his injury history. But Yokishi was preparing to go to Korea again. It is rumored that Yokishi was preparing for a replacement at any time, along with the introduction of the KBO League's injury replacement foreign player system. I didn't have a team, but I kept building my body.

Yokishi holding his son in his arms. Sports Chosun DB

A game between LG and Doosan at Jamsil Baseball Stadium on the 31st, Doosan Brandon gestures toward the dugout after hitting LG Shin Min-jae's hitting ball in the leg in the top of the third inning. Jamsil= Reporter's wook@sportschosun.com/2024.05.31/

In the meantime, Yokishi first asked the Doosan Bears club. When asked if Doosan could test a car that was also troubled by Brandon Waddell's injury, Yokishi immediately entered Korea. The team will pay for the flights and accommodation, and they will stay in Icheon and check the exact condition by throwing the ball. Yokishi, who entered the country on June 29, threw a ball in Icheon on June 30. Rumor has it that he was full of motivation. Although he has made his body well, he pitched right away on the morning of the 30th, saying, `It's okay,' even though he has not yet adjusted to the jet lag and is busy due to a long flight, and his speed came out from 142 to 143 kilometers. Doosan plans to watch Yokishi's pitch once more on the 3rd and draw a close conclusion.

Doosan is making a short list of replacement players from Yokishi and SSG Landers, including Roenis Elias, one of Shirakawa and Kisho, and pitchers from independent clubs. However, if Yokishi receives a passing score even after pitching on the 3rd, he could be in an advantageous position with a lot of experience in the KBO League. This is because he is also a left-hander, and he has one opportunity to use it for six weeks temporarily, not completely replace it, and then aim for it.

Yokishi, who has been building his body by himself dreaming of a comeback in the KBO League. There are concerns about a gap in the sense of the game, but if he maintains his fingertips, he will also be able to recover quickly. Will he be able to succeed in reemployment.

youll@sportschosun.com