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KBO pitcher Jurado rejoices after striking out Ohtani twice in exhibition

Published: 17 Mar. 2024, 16:10

JIM BULLEY
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Kiwoom Heroes starter Ariel Jurado pitches during a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Gocheok Sky Dome in western Seoul on Sunday. [NEWS1]

Kiwoom Heroes starter Ariel Jurado came into his team's exhibition game on Sunday against the Los Angeles Dodgers with a strong Major League track record against their superstar, Shohei Ohtani.

And Jurado, now pitching in the KBO, maintained that upper hand, as he struck out Ohtani twice.

The Dodgers cruised a 14-3 victory, but Jurado had himself a moment to remember.

Los Angeles Dodgers' designated hitter Shohei Ohtani returns to the bench after striking out during the second inning of an exhibition game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Kiwoom Heroes at Gocheok Sky Dome in western Seoul on Sunday. [AP/YONHAP]

"I felt good," the Panamanian pitcher said. "I threw some fastball up and he swung. He's the best player in MLB now. Every year, he's getting better. He's unbelievable."

Before Jurado joined the Heroes for the 2023 season, he had struck out Ohtani six times in 22 at-bats in the majors while giving up just four hits.

In Ohtani's first at-bat in the opening frame of Sunday's game, Jurado got him to fan on a high sinker. Then in the second inning, Jurado got him with a high fastball.

Immediately after striking out Ohtani in the first, Jurado served up a home run to Freddie Freeman. Ohtani and Freeman were two of the three MVP winners in the Dodgers lineup, joined by leadoff man Mookie Betts.

"It's a good lineup," Jurado said. "A lot of good players in MLB ... it's a good experience for me, too."

Jurado, who was charged with four runs on five hits in four innings, said he hoped he would start drawing more attention from big league scouts after this outing.

"Maybe a lot of scouts watched this game on TV, too," he said. "It was a good opportunity. Maybe more scouts will follow my career here."

Yonhap