LG Twins foreign pitcher Casey Kelly (34) was selected as the starter for Game 1 of the Korean Series (KS) early on. Kelly’s role is more important as another foreign pitcher, Adam Plutko, is unable to participate in KS. As LG is attempting to win the championship for the first time in 29 years since 1994, Kelly, who was strong in big games including the postseason (PS), has a significant role to play.
Kelly is calmly preparing for KS at LG Champions Park in Icheon, Gyeonggi-do. He said, “I plan to prepare gradually according to the set schedule. “I think it will be helpful for him to go straight to KS and have a bit of a break,” he said. He continued, “Personally, I’m preparing no different from pitching during the regular season. “I am taking good steps in terms of increasing my stamina and strength,” he added.
“I don’t know who I will meet in KS, but I don’t want to meet anyone. He said, “That’s how good all the teams that advanced to PS are,” and added, “There is of course pressure on the KS stage. But the pressure also helps me prepare,” he said. He continued, “The pressure of having to do well itself increases concentration. “You may feel a lot of tension and pressure before the game starts, but it helps you play well both mentally and physically,” he explained.
The point that Kelly focuses on is showing the pitching that was good on the mound in KS as well. He suffered a severe slump early this season. But he got better as the game went on, and returned to ace mode in the second half. He only had 6 wins and 5 losses and an earned run average (ERA) of 4.44 in 18 games in the first half, but recorded 4 wins and 2 losses and an ERA of 2.90 in 12 games in the second half. He said, “In the first half, the ball didn’t go where I wanted. Although the exact cause has still not been found, he pitched consistently and clearly improved in the second half of the season. “Even in KS, it is important to prepare so that I can throw a good ball where I want,” he emphasized.먹튀검증
If Kelly fights well in KS and takes the lead in LG’s KS win, he can also challenge for MVP honors. But he is not greedy. “I know that the KS MVP is given a special gift from the club,” he said. “Honestly, anyone can receive the gift. When someone receives a luxury watch, it means that LG won. “That in itself is good,” he said, earnestly hoping for a combined win for the team he has been with for five years.