I asked a lot of questions during the postseason and regular season, but I still have one question.”토스카지노
‘KBO reverse export myth’ Merrill Kelly (35, Arizona Diamondbacks) was again asked about Korea. Kelly held a press conference ahead of Game 1 of the World Series against the Texas Rangers in the 2023 Major League Baseball held at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas on the 28th (Korean time). Arizona announced ace Jack Gallen as the starting pitcher in the first game, and Kelly, the second starter, is scheduled to start in the second game on the 29th. Kelly stood before reporters prior to her Game 2 appearance.
One reporter said to Kelly, “I asked a lot of questions during the postseason and regular season, but I still have one question. I came back to the major league where I wanted to play in Korea, and I want to know how you adapted to pitching in a different league. How long did it take you to adapt? “What was the most difficult part?” he asked.
“I think I’m still adjusting,” Kelly said. “This game in general, and the major leagues in particular, is a game of adjustment. The first two years, the first year, when I first stepped on a big league mound, it was definitely a huge whirlwind. Not just in baseball. “It was the fastest year that passed in my entire life,” he said.
He continued, “As I said before, when you enter the big league, you are affected by completely unexpected external factors. Not only do you have to work hard to face the world’s best big league hitters, but you also have to take care of your family’s expectations, and you have to deal with reporters and reporters regarding the game. “We talk more. After those two years, I started to feel more confident and comfortable as a major league pitcher,” he added.
Before Game 5 of the National League Championship Series against the Philadelphia Phillies on the 22nd, Kelly was asked, “Did you dream of starting in the big league postseason when you were playing in Korea, or was it something so far away that it was difficult to even imagine?”
“I dreamed of it every day,” Kelly said. “When I went to Korea, as I’ve said before, my ultimate goal was to come back to the U.S. one day. When I was in Korea, there was no thought in my head that said, ‘This is it for you.’ “I only accepted it as my career until the near future (the moment of returning to the major leagues) approaches. I did not accept that living in Korea was the end of my career,” he said emphatically.
He continued, “I had the ambition to sit here in the interview room and have a conversation with you (reporters). And dreaming like this was also my daily routine. When I was in Korea, I would wake up early in the morning for a major league game. So, when I wake up in the morning, I check the game. First, I check how the players and friends I know are doing in the big leagues. Then, I think that one day, when I return to the United States, I can give myself a chance and contribute. “I paid attention to the teams that were playing. While I was in Korea, there wasn’t a single day when I thought I wouldn’t be able to play in the major leagues,” he said, adding that he was satisfied with his dream being achieved.
Before appearing on the mound in Game 1 of the National League Division Series against the LA Dodgers on the 7th, Kelly herself brought up memories of her time in Korea. At the time, Kelly was about to make her big league postseason debut, so her reporters were curious about her ‘big stage experience’.
Kelly said, “We won the Korean Series in the 2018 KBO. Although the stadium is smaller than here, the playoff experience and the tremendous cheering enthusiasm at that time definitely gave us the experience to participate in such a big game.”
Kelly contributed greatly to Arizona’s miracle of advancing to the World Series, which was the 6th seed in the National League and was the last team to play fall baseball. Arizona defeated the Milwaukee Brewers (2 wins in the wild card game), the Dodgers (3 wins in the division series), and Philadelphia (4 wins and 3 losses in the championship series) in order to advance to the World Series for the first time in 22 years since 2001. Kelly appeared in 3 postseason games and performed well with 2 wins, 1 loss, 17 innings, and an ERA of 2.65.
He was also the hero who saved Arizona from elimination. Kelly started in Game 6 of the Championship Series against Philadelphia on the 24th and pitched well, allowing 1 run in 5 innings, leading to a 5-1 victory. At the time, Arizona was behind the series with 2 wins and 3 losses and was in a situation where one loss would eliminate them, but thanks to Kelly laying the groundwork for a counterattack, they were able to take games 6 and 7 and continue their sensational run all the way to the World Series.
The American media is naturally showing great interest in Kelly. Kelly became a completely different player before and after playing in the KBO League, and since he is the most successful player in the KBO League, he is always asking questions about Korea.
Kelly played as an ace for the SK Wyverns (now SSG Landers) for four seasons from 2015 to 2018, recording career records of 119 games, 48 wins, 32 losses, 729⅔ innings, 641 strikeouts, and an ERA of 3.86. Ahead of the 2019 season, Arizona offered him a two-year contract worth $5.5 million, so he came to the big leagues, and started 127 games in five seasons until this year, recording 48 wins, 43 losses, 750⅔ innings, 681 strikeouts, and an ERA of 3.80, making him the second starter. took its place.
He is on a roll, steadily raising his price. Kelly has $33 million guaranteed over six years from 2019 to 2024. His first contract was for 2+2 years, with club options for $4.25 million in 2021 and $5.25 million in 2022 both exercised. He also signed a two-year extension ahead of the 2022 season. $18 million is guaranteed until 2024. His signing bonus is $1 million, and his salary for 2023 and 2024 is $8 million. There is a $7 million club option for 2025, and if the club refuses to exercise the option, Kelly will receive $1 million as a buyout.
Will Kelly be able to reach the pinnacle of the KBO reverse export legend by giving Arizona the World Series championship trophy? Kelly said, “I checked once more to see if it was the World Series. The preparation process was the same. I checked the game plan as I usually do. I’m trying to think of World Series games as if they were regular games, if possible. Obviously, when I get on the mound, I’ll recognize that it’s a different game. “I will try to act as if it were a regular season as much as possible,” he said, pledging to do his best to help Arizona win the World Series.