Doosan Bears announced on Monday an extension contract with Keisho Shirakawa (23). It lasted only 15 days, totaling 1.4 million yen (12.7 million won).메이저사이트
The treatment for Shirakawa has definitely improved.
Shirakawa, who played for Japan’s independent baseball team, was the first player in the short-term foreign player system that went into effect this year. With Roenis Elias sidelined due to injury, SSG Landers signed a six-week contract with Shirakawa for a total of 1.8 million yen (about 16.5 million won) in May.
His performance at SSG was good. He recorded two wins and two losses with an ERA of 5.09 in five games. Excluding that he allowed eight runs (seven earned runs) in one ⅓ inning at the game against Lotte on June 7, he only posted an ERA of 2.49 in four games.
He showed that he worked well in the KBO League, so he 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 had 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 twice the amount SSG earned.
At Doosan, Shirakawa recorded two wins and two losses with a 5.43 ERA in six games. On the 16th, his last appearance, he played “life pitching” against the Suwon KT Wiz with four hits, one out and three strikeouts in eight innings.
Regardless of whether he pitched well or not, Doosan needed Shirakawa. Brandon, who was expected to return in six weeks, suffered pain after pitching in the bullpen on Tuesday. Brandon has yet to catch the ball again, and the timing of his return is still unknown. The timing of the reexamination is also unclear.
Doosan sought to renew the contract with Shirakawa. As he is an alternative foreign player, he cannot afford to play in the postseason. However, since Brandon has yet to come back, Doosan needed the strength of Shirakawa as long as possible. However, not only Doosan’s willingness to renew the contract but also Shirakawa’s decision was needed.
Shirakawa wanted to play in the Japanese pro baseball league. “I tried to respect Shirakawa’s strong will to play in the NPB,” a Doosan official said. “Since there could be a game that can be postponed due to rain, we left the possibility of playing until the 15th and signed a contract on the 15th.”
Shirakawa also explained, “I think I needed time to think about and think about whether the NPB I’m aiming for can get closer to should show its ability in the KBO League and if it’s good to go and show it in person.”
If Shirakawa starts on the 22nd and plays the rotation, he will play against Changwon NC on the 28th and Daejeon Hanwha on September 3rd.
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 allows the urgent fire to be extinguished.
“It’s good to hear from you,” Doosan manager Lee Seung-yeop said, adding, “Brandon’s return is being delayed, but if Shirakawa fails to sign a contract, we will need another starting pitcher. I think it will be helpful to our team by signing a contract with Shirakawa even for two weeks. I will throw the ball on time until September 3rd.”
For Shirakawa, the KBO League time was not just wasted. “I didn’t think I would play in the KBO League for 14 weeks,” Shirakawa said. “At first, I was nervous and burdened to throw in front of a large audience, but I think I’ve grown a lot as I’ve adapted to that.”
Shirakawa, who now has the chance to take the mound in three more games after joining the Doosan Bears, said, “I will throw the ball with the mindset that I will win all games and become a winning pitcher. I will become a pitcher who contributes to my team.”