Yang Eui-ji desperately coveted '15.2 billion catchers' too! 'The ball is really good' 23-year-old Shirakawa landed in Doosan, Season 2 of Korean Life
Jul 10, 2024
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The man Yang Eui-ji didn't want to wear the Doosan Bears uniform at last.
Doosan signed a substitute contract with foreign pitcher Keisho Shirakawa (23) for a total of 4 million yen (about 34 million won) on the 10th.
Doosan and Shirakawa will be together for six weeks. Shirakawa previously received 1.8 million yen (about 15.43 million won) at the time of his six-week contract with SSG Landers, but he will receive 4 million yen, more than double that of Doosan this time. As such, Shirakawa's skills on the professional baseball stage during the SSG have been recognized for their value.
Doosan selected Shirakawa as a substitute for Brandon Waddell, who was placed on the rehabilitation list due to left sub-scapular injury. Along with Shirakawa, Eric Yokishi, who has been an ace for the Kiwoom Heroes for a long time, has been listed as a candidate. Yokishi stayed at Doosan and underwent a skill test, but he returned with regret following the club's judgment that he needed two to three weeks to issue a visa.
However, Doosan's choice of Shirakawa is not just a visa issue. Doosan was confident in Shirakawa's performance. Above all, Yang Eui-ji values Shirakawa's skills highly.
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During the All-Star Game, Doosan manager Lee Seung-yeop also visited SSG coach Lee Sung-yong and asked a lot about Shirakawa. Manager Lee Sung-yong replied with sincerity. He "told the truth. He is a good pitcher, and even though he was young, he showed his performance on the mound. I have power in my fastball, release point is good, I throw 2 types of curves, and splitter is good. If you show your skills while you're on our team, there's a possibility in Doosan as well."
First of all, Jamsil, its home stadium, is pitcher-friendly because it has a wider outfield than SSG Landers Field. In particular, it is an environment that can feel completely different for a pitcher who throws a fast fastball like Shirakawa. Shirakawa, who lacked experience enough to be shaken by the shouts of Sajik Stadium, may show a different side in Doosan as he has already gained enough professional baseball experience.
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Director Lee Soo-yong said, `I really want to go and do well. It's also true that I don't want it to come out when you're doing it with us. If we face Elias, we have to win to make it. Isn't it already fierce between us and Doosan?" he said, expressing his complicated feelings.
Shirakawa said, "I'm happy to join a good team called Doosan. I'm going to throw every ball in every game I take the mound with all my might to win," he stressed.
Shirakawa wore the SSG Landers uniform as an alternative foreign player in May this year when he played for the Tokushima Indigo Sox in the Japanese independent league. Shirakawa started five KBO league games and played 23 innings with a 2-2 record and a 5.09 ERA.
lunarfly@sportschosun.com
