Veteran foreign pitcher Casey Kelly leaves LG Twins with a legacy

Baseball

Published: 22 Jul. 2024, 11:09

Veteran foreign pitcher Casey Kelly leaves LG Twins with a legacy

The LG Twins toss their departing ace Casey Kelly after a rained-out game against the Doosan Bears at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in southern Seoul on Saturday. [YONHAP]

An emotional Casey Kelly greeted fans at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in southern Seoul for the final time on Saturday as the LG Twins bid a rainy farewell to their longest-serving foreign pitcher.

It marked the end of a memorable stint for Kelly, the Twins and the KBO — where foreign players are automatically signed to one-year contracts. Kelly, who stuck with the same club for five and a half years, became part of the institution.

Kelly, 34, ended his sixth season with the Twins as the KBO’s most senior foreign pitcher at home, the Twins leading in a Jamsil Derby against the Doosan Bears up 6-0 at the top of the third inning until downpours hit the ballpark, washing out a chance for one last win.

Casey Kelly waves to the crowd at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in southern Seoul on Saturday. [YONHAP]

“There’s not too many words that I can use to sum up the last five and a half years of what you guys have meant to my family, meant to myself. You guys have just been here through it all,” Kelly told fans during his farewell ceremony, holding back tears.

“Your energy in Jamsil is, it’s unmatched. I’m so thankful to be able to put this jersey on, and to be able to play here for five years.”

And after his family said their goodbyes, Kelly knelt to the ground in a full bow, with fans chanting his name.

The right-hander joined the Twins at the end of 2018, picking up 14 wins and 12 losses with a 2.55 ERA in his debut season. He went on to lead the KBO’s pitchers in wins and notch one of the lowest ERAs in the league and leaves Korea having led the Twins to their first championship in nearly 30 years.

He was the winning pitcher for the Twins’ Game 5 victory in the 2023 Korean Series, giving up just one run in five innings of work and allowing his club to take an insurmountable lead to lock in the final game for the title that had long-eluded the Seoul team.

That was after Kelly had seen his worst season yet, earning a 3.83 ERA in 2023 after recording his lowest 2.54 the year before that.

Kelly came to the KBO after a career predominantly in the minors, but fresh off a stint with the San Francisco Giants when he was briefly called up to the MLB team as a relief pitcher in 2018, recording a 3.04 ERA over seven appearances.

He debuted in the majors with the San Diego Padres in 2012, earning a 6.21 ERA over two wins and three losses, but moved between the minors and majors for the rest of his time in the States before heading to Korea in 2019.

And he stuck with the Twins, seeing the club through to the postseason every year in the KBO.

Casey Kelly embraces LG Twins manager Youm Kyoung-youb at Jamsil Baseball Stadium on Saturday. [YONHAP]

Kelly's departure comes after an inconsistent start to the 2024 season, with a 4.51 ERA and five wins and eight losses on his line. According to Twins manager Youm Kyoung-youb, it was Kelly's decision to go ahead with his start on Saturday despite knowing his time with the club had come to an end.

The Twins will replace Kelly with Elieser Hernandez, who spent five years with the MLB’s Miami Marlins and this year made appearances for the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Milwaukee Brewers.

Hernandez, 29, bats right and has an MLB career 5.10 ERA over 99 appearances with 10 wins and 22 losses.

The Twins sit in second place on the 10-team table as of press time, 6.5 games behind the leading Kia Tigers.

BY MARY YANG, JIM BULLEY [mary.yang@joongang.co.kr]