Kim Hyesung convinced me' LAD fastball right-hander said, "How did you head to KT?" I will fall in love with Korea like KIM said"

*This content was translated by AI.

The fastball right-hander, who also gave last year's World Series winner LA Dodgers a chance, headed to the Korean KBO League. In the background, there was advice from Kim Hye-sung (27, LA Dodgers), a Korean major leaguer of the same age.

Sauer recently met with Star News at the 2026 KT Spring Camp at Kushikawa Baseball Stadium in Uruma, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, and said, "I'm certainly in good physical condition from Australia. "I'm slowly improving my condition in time for the opening of the regular season," he said.

Sauer was the first foreign pitcher KT brought in shortly after the end of last season. Last year, Sauer entered the Dodgers' opening roster and played in the Major League Baseball. Although he went to Triple-A with a 2-1 record and 6.37 ERA in 10 games, he was wearing a Dodgers uniform until the end of the season.

However, he experienced the pain of release after the end of the season, and KT immediately snatched him, who was at the top of the recruitment list. Sauer said, "KT was the first to contact me. After consulting with agents and family members, I thought the KBO League was a good stage to develop my skills. Also, I think it is a great honor to be able to play baseball around the world. "After training so far, it was a good choice," he said.

In deciding to go to Korea, Kim Hye-sung, who had a short meal, was also convinced. Kim Hye-sung joined the Dodgers through the posting system ahead of last season. Unlike Sauer, he did not make the opening roster, but remained on the World Series roster until the end after the call-up during the season and tasted the joy of winning.

Sauer said, "In fact, I don't remember playing much with foreign players who played in the KBO league. However, Kim Hye-sung, who has been with me for five months, explained a lot," he said. "He told me that if I go to KBO, I can play baseball that I wanted to play." He said there must be a reason why the team wanted you."

He said, "He told me to try to be a good teammate outside the stadium. He said it would be helpful to actively participate in all processes, such as learning Korean and falling in love with Korean culture. So I'm gradually learning," he said with emphasis.

KT, which had always been thirsty for fastball pitchers, paid attention to Sauer's potential. Sauer is a right-handed fireballer who throws fast balls up to mid-150km/h and freely uses various pitches such as cutters, sinkers, sliders, and splitters.

Since Australia's live pitching, he has already thrown a fast ball of 152km/h. Sauer said, "I had one live pitching and a real game in Australia, and overall my control was good. I had a target restraint in February, but I'm satisfied that I reached it. I think it will go up further when the season starts," he said with a smile.

This winter, KT replaced all foreign players. From former KBO MVP Mel Rojas Jr., William Cuevas of Tuhon, and Enmanuel de Heysus, who is familiar with the KBO League, they chose to part ways with proven players.

In the background, the decline in the skills of existing players was the biggest. However, he could not ignore the influence of the two foreigners' one-two punch, Cody Ponce and Ryan Weiss, who led the Hanwha Eagles, who were eighth place last year, to the Korean Series.

Both Ponce and Weiss were the strongest one-two punches in the league, playing many innings with an average speed of 150km/h as their main weapon. They were responsible for 33 wins and 359 ⅓ innings alone, competing for the championship until the end of the regular season.

Sauer is also aware of KT's expectations. When asked to introduce himself, Sauer said, "I'm a pitcher who actively targets the strike zone. "I use three types of fastballs (four-seam, two-seam, and cutter) to make a stabbing pitch in every corner of the zone," he said.

"As a starting pitcher, I want to play as many innings as possible to ease the burden on the bullpen. In the U.S., a pitcher like me is called a workhorse. Throw every game with the goal of a complete game. That's my identity and what I can do for the team," he stressed.

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*This content was translated by AI.