Lee Beom-ho expresses great satisfaction: "Shirakawa's stuff is reportedly better than during his SSG-Doosan days → will start in the bullpen before moving to the rotation"

*This content was translated by AI.

Japanese pitcher Shirakawa Keisho (25) has finally donned the KIA Tigers uniform, and Kia manager Lee Beom-ho (45) expressed his satisfaction. Reports indicate that his stuff has improved compared to the 2024 season.

KIA Tigers officially announced on the 28th that it has signed Shirakawa Keisho for a total contract value of $100,000 (signing bonus $20,000, annual salary $40,000, option $40,000). He is the first player of Japanese nationality in the team's history.

Shortly after the club's official announcement, manager Lee Beom-ho met with on-site reporters ahead of the Kiwoom Heroes game scheduled for the 28th at Gocheok Sky Dome, showing a broad smile regarding Shirakawa's acquisition. The manager stated, "I received reports that Shirakawa was coming, and I understood he would join once he passed the final medical test. It seems to have been concluded well, with no major issues, so the contract was successfully finalized."

Shirakawa has already experienced the KBO League, playing for SSG Landers and Doosan Bears during the 2024 season (4 wins, 5 losses, 5.65 ERA). The KIA lineup also faced him at that time. Manager Lee Beom-ho reflected, "I believe we had difficulty hitting against Shirakawa back then. I heard his stuff is much better now than when he was in Korea. His velocity and other aspects have improved, and since he underwent ligament reconstruction surgery (Tommy John surgery), his physical condition seems to be even better." He did not hide his expectations.

The manager continued, "He received positive evaluations from both teams (SSG and Doosan) he previously played for. In the current market situation, it was practically impossible to find a player better than Shirakawa," expressing satisfaction with the club's swift handling of the matter.

He also provided clear guidance on the "role" that has drawn everyone's attention. Rather than immediately inserting him into the starting rotation, the plan is to proceed step by step.

Manager Lee Beom-ho stated, "For now, he will pitch in the Futures League (minor league), undergo a check-up, and then be called up. We considered calling him up immediately to Jamsil for the weekend LG game, but to avoid fatigue from traveling back and forth, we decided to have him prepare further at Hapyeong (the minor league training site)."

Regarding his role in his debut game, he explained, "For now, he will start by pitching in the first-division bullpen, and we will assess the situation." The manager added, "The current first-division starting rotation is already set for several weeks. We cannot disrupt the existing rotation. However, we plan to have him throw lightly for about one inning initially in the bullpen, and then gradually increase his workload to 2–3 innings." He even outlined a specific roadmap.

There is also a long-term strategy in place to manage his physical condition. The manager added, "Once the peak summer season (July–August) arrives, there will likely be many instances where starting pitchers' physical condition definitely declines. Considering this, we are planning a rotation that will transition Shirakawa to a starting role."

Shirakawa will immediately join the KIA Futures team on the 29th to begin serious preparations for his return to the Korean stage. It remains to be seen whether Shirakawa, now wearing the "Tigers Army" uniform, will contribute to KIA's race for a top-tier position.

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*This content was translated by AI.