"Not even catching the ball" It's a mystery to return to Brandon, but why did Shirakawa only extend 15 days
Aug 22, 2024
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The Doosan Bears announced an extension contract with Keisho Shirakawa (23) on the 21st. The period is only 15 days. The total amount was 1.4 million yen (about 12.7 million won).
The treatment for Shirakawa has definitely improved.
Shirakawa, who played for Japan's independent baseball team, was the first player in the short-term alternative foreign player system that took effect this year. With Roenis Elias out due to injury, SSG Landers signed a six-week contract with Shirakawa in May for a total of 1.8 million yen (about 16.5 million won).
His performance in SSG was good. He went 2-2 with a 5.09 ERA in five games. Excluding his poor performance with eight runs (seven earned runs) in one ⅓ against Lotte on June 7, he had only a 2.49 ERA in four games.
He showed that he worked well enough in the KBO League, and moved to Doosan after the contract expired. Doosan needed a short-term replacement to fill the void of Brandon Waddell, who left in July due to injury, and reached out to Shirakawa, who finished adapting to the KBO League. Doosan gave Shirakawa a total of 4 million yen (about 36.6 million won) for six weeks. It is more than double the amount SSG gave.
For Doosan, Shirakawa had two wins and two losses with a 5.43 ERA in six games. In the match against Suwon KT Wiz on the 16th, which was his last appearance, he pitched 'life pitching' with four hits, one out and three strikeouts in eight innings.
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Doosan sought to renew the contract with Shirakawa. Shirakawa cannot play in the postseason because he is an alternative foreign player. However, as the timing of Brandon's return has not been set, Doosan needed Shirakawa's strength as long as possible. However, not only Doosan's willingness to renew the contract, but also Shirakawa's decision was needed.
Shirakawa wanted to take the Japanese professional baseball stage. A Doosan official said "First of all, Shirakawa was willing to challenge NPB, so I tried to respect that part"There could be a game that could be postponed due to rain, so we left the possibility of playing until the 4th and signed a contract on the 15th."
As for the part where Shirakawa also failed to give a definite answer to the last extension of the six-week contract, "I think I needed time to think about whether the NPB, which is aiming for, should show its ability in the KBO League and whether it is good to go and show it in person.", he explained.
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This season, Doosan is working on its schedule the fastest because there are not many cancellations of rain. As such, the remaining game schedule is wide, so there will be no need for many starting pitchers in September. First of all, the contract on the 15th allowed the urgent fire to be extinguished.
Doosan manager Lee Seung-yeop said `Nice news' about Shirakawa's extension, `Brandon's return is being delayed, but if Shirakawa does not sign a contract, another starter will be needed. I think it will help our team by signing a contract with Shirakawa even for two weeks. I'm going to throw it in time for September 3rd."
Even for Shirakawa, KBO league time was not just wasted. Shirakawa never thought he would play in the KBO League for 14 weeks"At first, throwing in front of a large audience was nervous and burdensome, but I think that's what I've grown a lot as I've adapted." he said.
Shirakawa, who now has a chance to take the mound in Doosan's uniform for about three more games, said "I'll throw it with the idea of winning all games and becoming a winning pitcher." I will be a pitcher who contributes to the team"He expressed his determination.
bellstop@sportschosun.com
