“I’m thinking about the week after next. I’m planning for Wednesday (August 7) or Thursday (August 8).”
The debut game of LG Twins ace Elijah Hernandez (29) is being outlined. LG manager Yeom Kyung-yeop told reporters at Jamsil Baseball Stadium on Wednesday that Hernandez will make his debut on Sept. 7 or 8. It is a period when he will play three consecutive games during the week with the Doosan Bears, his rival in Jamsil.안전놀이터
Doosan is a team that almost became a farewell match for Casey Kelly (34) released by LG on the 20th. Kelly was notified of his release from LG on the 19th, but he took the mound against Doosan Bears in Jamsil on the 20th with the desire to play one more game with his LG teammates. Since he has been with Kelly for six years from 2019 to this year, the club also pushed for an unusual farewell match. At that time, Kelly was cruising to 74 wins in his KBO career by pitching two ⅔ scoreless innings, but he failed to finish the farewell match properly because the no-game was declared due to heavy rain. Kelly burst into tears that he endured with the declaration of no-game, and Doosan players who share the Jamsil Baseball Stadium as their home team also hugged Kelly and saw him off for the last time.
Hernandez is expected to make his debut against Doosan after Kelly’s baton. Hernandez arrived in Korea at Incheon International Airport on the evening of the 25th. Hernandez agreed to a total contract of 440,000 dollars (about 600 million won) with LG early on the 19th in Korean time, but he was stranded at the airport, which delayed his entry. Hernandez greeted the team while conducting his first training session at Jamsil Baseball Stadium on the 26th.
“I came here today (26th) to greet him. I asked him to throw bullpen session on Sunday (28th). If I get a visa, I think I will play in the second division and then take the mound. I plan to play on Wednesday (August 7) or Thursday (August 8) the next week,” Yeom said.
Hernandez has such high expectations that LG gave up Kelly after much consideration. LG also guaranteed the full amount of $440,000 without an option. Cha Myung-seok, LG’s general manager, went to the U.S. and brought him with sincerity as he pursued the contract.
Born in 1995, Hernandez is a right-handed pitcher from Venezuela. He is 185 cm tall and weighs 97 kg. Hernandez joined the Miami Marlins in 2018 and posted an 11-7, 159 ⅔ innings and 2.87 ERA in 35 minor league Triple-A games.
He also spent six seasons in the Major League from 2018 to this year. During the five years between 2018 and 2022, he played in 90 games (48 starts), 10 wins and 21 losses, 287 ⅔ innings and 5.04 ERA in the Miami Marlins. He had no record in the Major League last year, and this year he got a chance to take the mound in two teams, the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Milwaukee Brewers. His record this season is one loss in nine games (one start), 15 ⅔ innings and an ERA of 6.32.
The team said, “Hernandez is a complete right-hander with sharp borderline control and outstanding pitching sense. He joined the team during the season, but I hope he will adapt quickly and serve as the first starter.”
Manager Yeom looked at Hernandez positively. “I watched the video, but I think the rotation speed is very good. Sliders are the best, and I don’t think changeups are bad for left-handed hitters. The best thing is that you can use left and right for a foreigner. I feel like I have a command to use the left and right corners rather than top and bottom. The speed is over 150 kilometers per hour, but I think I am moving back and forth between 147 and 150 kilometers,” Yeom said.
Hernandez gave up his dream of becoming a major leaguer for a while and challenged himself on the Korean stage. In the KBO League, foreign pitchers are constantly given the chance to start. Pitchers who wrote the myth of “steady opportunities” in Korea by winning major league contracts based on success in the KBO League, such as Eric Peddy (NC Dinos → Chicago White Sox), and Merrill Kelly (SK Wyverns → Arizona Diamondbacks), often say that steady opportunities in Korea helped them greatly. Hernandez also chose to take chances to follow the same path.
As of Tuesday, LG ranks second with 53 wins, 42 losses and two draws in the current season. Although LG has a long way to go before the leading Kia Tigers, Hernandez needs to display good pitching to keep at least the second place. While Detrick N.S., who succeeded in surviving instead of Kelly, is showing stellar performance in three games in the second half with one win, 19 ⅓ innings and an earned run average of 0.47, if Hernandez adds stability, LG will have room to challenge for the second consecutive year to win the Korean Series.
After arriving in Korea, Hernandez said through his team, “I’m grateful to play for LG. I’m glad to be here in Korea. As I came to Korea at an important time, I will do my best to win the championship by having fun and working hard with the LG Twins players.”