"Are you going to Asia? "Recommend Korea unconditionally rather than Japan" Anderson, who can't say empty words, is serious.

Aug 12, 2024

드류 앤더슨. Photo =SSG Landers

SSG Landers foreign pitcher Drew Anderson (30) is a player who has experienced both the Japanese and Korean leagues.

He dreamed of becoming a major leaguer in his home country of the United States, and also got an opportunity to make a real big league call-up. In the 2021 season, he won his first major league victory with the Texas Rangers.

And in the midst of fierce competition, I had a chance to enter Asian baseball. Ahead of the 2022 season, he signed with Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) Hiroshima Toyokaf and played there for two seasons.

In the first season, he recorded 3-4 with a 3.60 ERA in 13 games and 4-1 with a 2.20 ERA in 21 games in the second season. He went back and forth between the starting pitcher and the bullpen, and his performance in the second season was definitely better than in the first season.

However, instead of continuing to challenge himself in Japan, he sought to return to the Major League. He signed a minor contract with the Detroit Tigers ahead of this season. Although it received attention from KBO League clubs, including SSG, from early on, it was determined that he wanted to try to enter the big league.

But the timing was exquisite. SSG quickly started looking for a replacement player when Robert Duggar was unable to adapt at the beginning of the season, and sent a love call back to Anderson, who was in a difficult situation to get a big league call-up opportunity in Detroit. This time, he responded, and the trip to Korea took place.

Picture=Reporter Nayuri

Going to Korea was a new opportunity for her, who met and married a Japanese woman when she played in Hiroshima and was separated as a long-distance couple on her way back to the United States. "It certainly helped me a lot to be with my wife," Anderson laughed. My wife, who was staying with me in Songdo, is now back in her home country of Japan for work. Anderson says, "I want to go home now because my wife is not here," he joked with a smile.

He evaluated KBO league hitters as `10 out of 10.' "Before I came to Korea, I didn't draw any images of Korean hitters. But when it comes, the level is very high. It's not the other team, but I think our team Choi Jung is the best hitter in the KBO League" was followed by an explanation.

When asked if he would recommend the KBO League to players who are in a similar situation to him and are considering going to Asia before coming to Korea, Anderson answered "100%". He "I would definitely recommend Korea over Japan. I think the baseball I experienced here is better. I'm doing a lot more to my baseball as well. Baseball in the league itself is fun, food is delicious, it is treated well, and the treatment and care of the players are well done. And the overall atmosphere seems to be much more relaxed. I want to recommend Korea over Japan," he replied.

Although the overall level of the league, especially the level of pitchers, is evaluated to be higher in the NPB than in the KBO League, it cannot be denied that the KBO League is in a better environment from the perspective of 'foreign players' who have experienced both leagues. NPB also has foreign players, and the possession restriction pool is wide, so competition for survival among foreign players is very fierce.

SSG won the game between SSG and Kiwoom 6-2 at Gocheok Sky Dome on the 7th. Anderson and Lee Ji-young are making high fives. Gocheok = Reporter Heo Sang-wook wook@sportschosun.com /2024.08.07/

On the other hand, the KBO League can only have up to three players per team The club makes great efforts and efforts to take care of foreign players' families, give them, interpret them, and live outside the ballpark without any inconvenience. Of course, if there is no performance, the KBO League is also cool-headed, but the players' satisfaction is inevitably high in terms of the environment itself. Anderson, who played in Japan for two seasons, is also comfortable with the KBO League in this regard.

Anderson does not say empty words at all, but when he talked about the KBO League environment, he was deeply sincere.

Having experienced both starting and bullpen in the U.S. and Japan, he surprisingly prefers the bullpen a little more. Anderson "I personally think the bullpen is a little bit more right. But throwing the ball is the same anyway. "Even if you go out to the bullpen, you throw six innings a week, and even if you go out as a starter, it's similar," he said with a smile.

A game between SSG and Kiwoom at Gocheok Sky Dome on the 7th, and SSG head coach Lee Soo-yong applauds Anderson coming down the mound at the bottom of the 6th inning. Gocheok = Reporter Heo Sang-wook wook@sportschosun.com /2024.08.07/

Since joining SSG in early May, I have been running nonstop for three months. He was 8-1 with a 3.11 ERA in 15 games. In the beginning, he needed a build-up process and adaptation time to make starting pitching again in the bullpen, but now he is playing the role of 'Ace', which consistently throws more than six innings.

Anderson said "Everything is fine physically, but I think the physical part is definitely a little less. I want to do well until the end without any injuries" he said. The coaching staff will give Anderson a break by adjusting the interval between his appearances this weekend.

youll@sportschosun.com

"Are you going to Asia? "Recommend Korea unconditionally rather than Japan" Anderson, who can't say empty words, is serious.

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