Japanese Pitcher Keisho Shirakawa Shines in KBO Debut with SSG Landers

Shirakawa (left) and catcher Lee Ji-young made their KBO League debut in opposition to Gocheok Kiwoom on the first. Supplied by SSG

‘Simplicity’ was the motto of Japanese pitcher Keisho Shirakawa (23, SSG Landers) earlier than his debut within the KBO League.

Shirakawa took the mound within the away recreation in opposition to Kiwoom Heroes held on the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on the first, and have become the profitable pitcher by permitting 3 hits, strikeouts 6, and no runs in 5 innings. Shirakawa, who was introduced in as a six-week international pitcher for the injured Roenis Elias, received the beginning pitcher’s begin in his first recreation within the KBO League, and was the primary a Japanese participant who did. The final begin win by a Japanese participant was 4,738 days after Ken Kadokura (then Samsung Lions) on June 11, 2011.

Not that there weren’t factors of enchancment. Maybe as a result of he didn’t know the official ball but, there have been instances when the damaged ball fell from his hand early within the recreation. Within the first inning alone, there have been three walks, and within the second inning, he was about to have the bottom loaded with two outs. Coach Kiwoom Hong Received-ki gave a somewhat harsh evaluation, saying, “If we had solved the important thing of the assault effectively within the first or second innings, I do not assume the pitcher would have been so troublesome to assault. carry on Shirakawa is a right-handed pitcher from the Tokushima Indigo Sox, a Japanese unbiased league, not the Nippon Skilled Baseball (NPB). He’s younger, in his early 20s, and has little expertise on the large stage. SSG coach Lee Soong-yong stated, “I assumed they might give him about 3 factors, however as a result of he has disaster administration expertise, they did not give him factors,” and added, “When there’s a runner, they alter the sample. and I believe they’re aggressive.”

Shirakawa dealing with Gocheok Kiwoom on the first. Supplied by SSG

What’s attention-grabbing is the pitching sample. Shirakawa, who had 92 pitches (55 strikes) earlier than Kiwoom, used a mixture of curves (18), forkballs (14), and sliders (7) in addition to fastballs (49). SSG pitching coach Tune Shin-young stated, “Since (Kiwoom’s batters) are the primary pitchers they face, I advised (catcher) Ji-young to simply use one or two good ones,” he stated, “Ball breaking (curve) you could catch the depend, and breaking ball (fork ball) that’s simple to drop ) When you combine 2 with a quick ball (most pace of 150 km / h), you get 3, and so I ready it as a result of I assumed it might be troublesome for bats who meet it for the primary time. ” In response to Coach Tune, Shirakawa didn’t throw a fastball (cutter) in any respect in his debut within the KBO League. The slide ratio, which remains to be at 7.6% of all pitches, might be elevated sufficient.

Shirakawa’s greatest weapon is ‘ignorance’. Shirakawa can also be coping with a batter he has by no means seen earlier than, however the batter isn’t any totally different. Coach Tune Shin-young stated, “The RBI (releasing level) is excessive. So, I do not assume it’s a must to give it some thought too difficult (it may be troublesome) as a result of it is the primary time you combine loop and forkball.” Coach Tune continued, “As you may see, his pitching type is wild. As he’s nonetheless a younger participant, he feels a bit unsure. secure over time.”

Shirakawa, who took the mound in opposition to Gocheok Kiwoom on the first, bows as he walks down the mound. Supplied by SSG

In response to the rotation order, Shirakawa will probably seem in opposition to the Lotte Giants on the seventh. Coach Lee Soong-yong inspired him, saying, “Since we received (in our first journey), I believe we will play extra comfortably within the subsequent recreation.”

Reporter Bae Jung-hyeon bjh1025@edaily.co.kr