Everyone is serious. Even foreign players sincerely wished for A.C.E’s return.
Eric Stout, who stepped on the Korean soil as a substitute for the injury of KIA Tigers James Nail, said ahead of Game 15 of the season against the 2024 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League SSG Landers at Gwangju-KIA Champions Field on the 29th, “I am sorry for this situation because I knew what kind of player this player (Nail) is and how well he was throwing in the league.”메이저사이트
Initially, KIA planned to be with two foreign players, Nail-Eric Lauer, through the rest of the season and the postseason that will follow. However, Nail suffered a broken jaw when she was hit by Matt Davison, the leadoff hitter, in the bottom of the sixth inning against the Changwon NC Dinos on the 24th, and the story changed.
Kia, which has been busy trying to minimize the nail gap, confirmed the recruitment of Stoute on Friday, four days after Nail’s injury. The condition is an annual salary of $45,000 (about W60 million). According to KBO league rules, only foreign players who have registered as players before Aug. 15 are allowed to play in the postseason. Stoute only plays until the regular season and has to say goodbye to KIA again. Still, Kia has reached out to Stoute to secure its No. 1 spot.
Why did Stout leave his performance in the Taiwanese professional baseball league behind and choose to go to Korea? “I wanted to get a chance to come to Korea and I thought I could grow one step further,” he said. “I thought it would be a difficult opportunity to just pass the call if the KBO League team contacted me.”
He also fully understood why the team called him. “I hope he recovers soon. I heard about his nails from a teammate, and if what I heard is correct, I think he is a strong player who can come back and throw before the Korean Series.”
The head coach is also grateful for Stout’s such heart. “He thanked me for allowing him to come here and throw for a short period of time, but I could feel his strong will and he seemed to know that we were in an important situation. His greetings that worried about his nails first touched my heart, and I could feel that he is a player with that kind of personality,” KIA manager Lee Bum-ho said positively.
KIA foreign pitcher James Nail expressed his gratitude on his Instagram on the 29th when he released a photo of veteran Yang Hyun-jong, Lee Joon-young, Kim Ki-hoon, Jeon Sang-hyun, Jung Hae-young, Kim Dae-yu and Kwak Do-gyu visiting the hospital. Nail Instagram
Korean players have also given Nail strength. Nail, who was discharged from Asan Medical Center in Seoul on the 27th, was impressed by her teammates’ visits after being admitted to the Good Hospital in Gwangju Metropolitan City.
Nail expressed her gratitude on her Instagram on the 29th by releasing photos taken with veteran Yang Hyun-jong, Lee Joon-young, Kim Ki-hoon, Jeon Sang-hyun, Jung Hae-young, Kim Dae-yu, and Kwak Do-gyu at the hospital.
Choi Hyung-woo, an outfielder who is the oldest player in the team, said, “I didn’t watch the video (when my nails were injured). I wish my nails were fine, rather than getting better soon. I think I need to get better soon, regardless of baseball.”
For Kia, the best scenario is to start the Korean Series with nails after winning first place. Then, will nails be able to stand on the mound again as everyone wishes? Neither the team nor the players themselves know yet. The schedule will likely be set according to the recovery of nails. KIA plans to support its nails to focus on recovery and monitor their physical condition.