'Five-round match-winner' 56 wins in total, the most wins, finally joining! Will I be the savior I've been waiting for

Aug 04, 2024

에릭 요키시. Sports Chosun DB

A veteran left-hander who won the most games in the KBO League. I finally joined the squad. What role will the savior play on a team in desperate need.

Eric Jokish, the NC Dinos, has finally joined the NC squad. NC made an unconventional choice to release Daniel Castano, a foreign pitcher with an 8-6 record and 4.35 ERA at the end of last month. In terms of the performance itself, it was not too sluggish, but considering Castano's recent condition and pitching, it was difficult to expect a satisfactory performance at this rate.

In the end, he made the decision to let Castano go, and while looking for a replacement player, he recruited Yokishi. NC officially announced its contract with Yokishi on July 31 on the condition of $100,000 (about 137 million won) per year.

After signing the contract, follow-up measures were also taken quickly. Yokishi, who went to Korea once to take the Doosan Bears' injury substitute test at the end of June, succeeded in re-employment after signing with NC. And I came back to Korea after a month.

After arriving through Incheon International Airport on the 3rd, Yoki headed to Changwon NC Park on the 4th. NC will play a home game against KT Wiz at NC Park. On this day, Yokishi met with the team and greeted the coaching staff and front staff.

에릭 요키시. Photo =NC Dinos

But I can't throw the ball yet. Additional procedures such as work visas have not been completed. Once he joined the team, the club can check his physical condition closely, and Yokishi will also wait for his visa while training and pitching. As soon as it is issued, the exact schedule for the first team's appearance will be confirmed.

There is certainty in the state of the body itself. When he was tested at Doosan, he threw more than 140 kilometers as soon as he came to Korea, and the ball itself was evaluated as not bad. However, the sense of practice is somewhat inferior. Yokishi had not saved his team after saying goodbye to the Kiwoom Heroes, who played for more than four seasons last year due to injury.

If he wanted to, he could have played in other leagues, including the U.S., but it is rumored that he prepared to return to the KBO League by conducting personal training. It was a little later than expected, but as a result, NC, which needed a replacement player to adapt to the KBO league and show stable pitching, reached out and confirmed its comeback in a year.

In the game between NC and Hanwha at Hanwha Life Eagles Park in Daejeon on the 9th, NC starter Hart is pitching hard. Daejeon = Reporter's wook@sportschosun.com/2024.06.09/

As long as the physical condition is fine, it is not expected that it will take a long time to recover the senses in practice. NC is also desperate for the team's situation. There is a definite 'Ace' Kyle Hart, but the other starting rotation is unstable. Yokishi should play a one-two punch with Hearts. The club also decided to replace foreign players in anticipation of that.

Yokishi is a 56-win pitcher in the KBO League and an experienced veteran pitcher who won two individual titles, including the lowest ERA (2.14) in the 2020 season and the most wins (16 wins) in the 2021 season. It is difficult to expect Choi's performance as he is in his mid-30s at the age of 35 this year, but it will be of great help if he gives stability to the team's somewhat exhausted mound.

NC is currently in a tough five-way race. Although the difference is not big yet, it has not escaped 7th place as it has recently lost 2 consecutive games. It is hoped that the Yokishi recruitment card, which was selected as a winning move, will be a success.

youll@sportschosun.com