SSG recruits Japanese Pitcher Shirakawa… KBO’s First ‘Short-Term Replacement Foreign Player’

Elias, diagnosed for over 6 weeks... SSG quickly recruits replacement players, becoming the 7th Japanese player ever to play in the KBO League

SSG Landers recruited right-handed Japanese pitcher Keisho Shirakawa (23) from the Japanese independent league as a ‘short-term replacement foreign player.’

This is the first case of KBO utilizing this system. 파워볼사이트

On the 22nd, SSG said, "It was determined that foreign pitcher Roenis Elias needs more than 6 weeks of treatment due to a left internal oblique muscle injury.

The club has established a new system this year that allows foreign players to be replaced if they leave the team due to injury during the season.

“We decided to use it,” he said, adding, “We signed a contract with Shirakawa for 1.8 million yen (15.72 million won).”

Shirakawa is from Tokushima Prefecture, Japan, and joined the Tokushima Indigo Sox of the Japanese independent league in 2020.

Tokushima is an independent league team founded in 2005 that won its league championship last year, and has produced new players in the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) draft for 11 consecutive years since 2013.

Shirakawa, who appeared as Tokushima's ace and starting pitcher in three opening games, recorded 4 wins and 1 loss in 6 games this season, with an ERA of 2.17 (3rd in the league) and 31 strikeouts (2nd in the league).

The 2023 season records are 4 wins, 3 losses, and an average ERA of 3.56 in 15 games.

SSG said, "We noted that Shiragawa has a pitching tempo that is difficult to deal with," and added, "He also has an advantage in terms of game management based on his fastball speed of up to 150 km/h and stable control of breaking balls such as slider, curve, and changeup." and introduced.

Shirakawa said, "I am very honored to have the opportunity to play baseball in a professional baseball league for the first time," and added, "I will do my best to contribute to the team's victory by demonstrating my strengths in Korea."

Elias was announced as a starting pitcher in the match against Kiwoom Heroes on the 18th, but complained of pain in his left side while preparing for the game.

I underwent a detailed examination on the 20th, and damage to my left internal oblique muscle was discovered.

He was given a 6-week diagnosis, but it may take longer before he returns to the first team.

Accordingly, the SSG club actively moved to ‘recruit short-term replacement foreign players’.

SSG explained, "We were drawing up a list of players who could be recruited in the short term, focusing on the Japanese independent league," and "We directly dispatched international scouts to observe the target players and then signed Shiragawa."

Starting this year, the KBO introduced a new system that allows 'if an existing foreign player is injured to the point of needing treatment for more than six weeks, the player is listed on the rehabilitation player list and a replacement foreign player is allowed to play until the player returns.'

Substitute foreign players do not count towards the number of substitutions, and injured foreign players can return to the league after at least 6 weeks.

When an injured foreign player returns, the replacement player must be replaced with another foreign player (one registration count will be deducted) or the contract must be terminated through waiver.

The cost of hiring replacement foreign players is limited to a maximum of $100,000 (approximately 137 million won) per month, the same as existing players.

Players who play in Japan's independent league receive a monthly salary of around 3 million won.

SSG recruited Shirakawa for a much lower amount than KBO regulations.

Shirakawa was recorded as the 7th Japanese pitcher to play in the KBO League, excluding Koreans living in Japan.

Satoshi Ikiri (pitcher, 2003 Doosan Bears), Kazuma Mori (pitcher, 2003 Lotte Giants), Kazuhiko Shiotani (infielder, 2006 SK Wyverns), Shingo Takatsu (pitcher, 2008 Seoul Heroes), Kadokura Gen (pitcher, SK in 2009-2010, Samsung Lions in 2011) and Shinya Okamoto (pitcher, LG Twins in 2010) played in the KBO league before Shirakawa.