"I always watch the KIA game as soon as I wake up in the morning." Two years after leaving Korea, why can't '3-month foreign investor' Crowe forget the Tigers? [Interview]

*This content was translated by AI.

Former KIA foreign pitcher Will Crowe (32, retired) once again cheered on his former teammates as they challenged for another championship.

Crowe was a right-handed pitcher who played for KIA in 2024. He was a player with extensive experience, having rotated through the starting lineup in Major League Baseball (MLB), and received even higher expectations than James Nail (33), who joined the team with him. However, Crowe's time in Korea did not last long. In May of that year, he was diagnosed with an injury to the medial collateral ligament in his right elbow and underwent surgery in the United States, bringing his brief three-month stay in Korea to an end. The situation did not improve afterward. After completing rehabilitation, he returned to the minor leagues but could no longer display the same level of performance as before, and he announced his retirement from active duty at the young age of 31 in September last year. His KBO record stands at 8 games, 5 wins, 1 loss, an ERA of 3.57, 40⅓ innings pitched, and 43 strikeouts.

Recently, when contacted by StarNews, Crowe shared his current situation, saying, "I am spending a lot of time with my family these days. Watching my three children grow is my greatest joy. I am now working in the dental field. I never thought I would end up doing this kind of work, but I am satisfied. I am also coaching baseball for young children."

Even though his time in Korea was only three months, and it has already been two years since he left, the reason Crowe is still talked about by KIA fans is his love for the Tigers. Even after returning to the United States, he continued to follow KIA games and even posted a congratulatory message with Hangul when KIA won the 2024 Korean Series. He still sends congratulatory messages on social media whenever KIA wins or when KIA players like Kim Do-young (23) perform well on the international stage.

In response, Crowe said, "Actually, it is difficult to watch a KIA game from start to finish from the United States. However, I tend to go to bed late and wake up early, so I always watch the final few innings of the game as soon as I wake up. On Sundays, I can watch a bit more before going to sleep." He then added, "I try my best to watch Nail's games and most of Oller's games. As a KIA fan, it is natural for me to want to watch as many games as possible. Watching KIA games brings me great joy. The fans' cheers and the atmosphere in the stadium are still wonderful," expressing his longing.

There are also many fans who wonder about his friendships with teammates he played with little or not at all. Crowe said, "For example, (Kwak) Do-gyu was my next-door neighbor in the locker room. I have been in contact with James (Nail) recently. Everyone speaks English quite well, so we talk about baseball and other things. Although I never played with Oller, I truly rate his pitching and game management very highly. To be honest, whenever posts about KIA players appear on social media, I check them all. Yang Hyeon-jong, Na Sung-bum, Kim Do-young, and also (former KIA player) Park Chan-ho, and even Socrates, I miss all of our teammates."

In particular, he showed special affection for Nail and Kim Do-young. According to Park Jae-hyung, the interpreter who worked with him, Crowe was a foreign pitcher who approached young players first during his time with KIA. He even gave Kim Do-young the nickname "The Young King."

Crowe said, "James is a talented and smart player. He has the ability to manage games and control them, and it is not easy to possess both of these qualities." He continued, "Kim Do-young is one of the best young baseball players in the world by my standards. He is a player who influences the game in every way every day, and I really like watching him play. As long as he stays healthy, he can continue to succeed. Furthermore, if (Kim) Do-young remains in Korea, I believe he will become one of the greatest players in KBO League history."

Why did a foreigner with blue eyes become so obsessed with KIA in just about three months? Crowe said, "I loved everything about KIA. The teammates, the coaching staff, the front office staff, and the fans were all wonderful. I am still grateful for the time I spent there and the support and love I received. Also, I had a truly excellent interpreter (Park Jae-hyung), and I feel I owe him a lot." He expressed his gratitude once again. At the same time, he revealed his honest feelings, saying, "I really miss everyone at KIA, including interpreter (Park) Jae-hyung. I wanted to accomplish something special at KIA. Deep down, I wanted to end my career there."

It was not an empty word. He also had a deep affection for Korea and Gwangju, just as much as for KIA. Even after parting ways with KIA, Crowe studied Korean every day with the goal of returning. Thanks to that, he still uses Korean quite well on social media and can accurately recall the names of his favorite cafes and barbecue restaurants near his accommodation. Crowe smiled, saying, "I still remember quite a few Korean words like 'Annyeonghaseyo' (Hello) and 'Gamsahamnida' (Thank you). And I remember food names very well. Bibimbap with gochujang is still one of my favorite foods in the world. Hanwoo (Korean beef) is also always a food I love."

He continued, "I have good visual memory, so I remember most of Gwangju. There was a small alley coffee shop near where I lived, and I really liked walking up to it and ordering. There was also a barbecue restaurant right next to my house, which is where I went with my wife when she visited Korea. I don't have immediate plans to go to Korea, but I plan to visit for sure in the future. I want to take my family there and let my children see and experience Korea."

KIA fans often mistake Crowe's three-month stint as if it were three years. And Crowe, from across the ocean, knows this love well. Crowe said, "The first thing I want to say to our KIA fans is 'Thank you.' I am truly grateful that you cheered for me, kept watching me, sent messages, and asked about my well-being. I am deeply grateful for that support, and I also feel regret that I wish I could have spent more time there."

He then added, "If I had known that was my last moment playing for KIA, I would have stayed longer and said a proper goodbye. If I could return, wear the Tigers uniform, and play one more time in front of the fans at Champions Field, I would do anything."

Finally, he sent a message of encouragement to his KIA teammates who are overcoming difficult times and taking off again. Crowe said, "There are good times and difficult times during the season. But good teams ultimately win games, and KIA is exactly that kind of team. I want to tell my teammates to enjoy the time they spend together, fight fiercely until the end, and continue to support each other."

He then added, "I want to see KIA lift the trophy again soon. 'Big Crowe' will always support KIA. I will always be by your side (Big Crowe from America is always supporting them and on their side)," sending a powerful message of support.

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*This content was translated by AI.