'Return to KBO after 650 days' KIA's new 'Potato' meets his nemesis on his 25th birthday and earns his first win... also received a birthday song as a gift "I think I'll never forget this"

*This content was translated by AI.

"Happy birthday. Happy birthday."

KIA Tigers' new foreign pitcher Shirakawa Keisho (25) spent the best birthday of his life.

On the 4th, Shirakawa started in the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League regular-season home game against Lotte Giants at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field, pitching 5 innings, allowing 4 hits and 2 walks while striking out 4 batters in a scoreless performance to lead KIA to a 10-0 victory.

With this win, KIA solidified a 2-1 winning streak, improving their record to 30 wins, 1 tie, and 26 losses. They became the fourth team in the league to reach 30 wins and closed in on the top spot. Meanwhile, Lotte finished with 22 wins, 1 tie, and 32 losses, failing to escape 9th place.

For Shirakawa personally, this was his first start since August 23, 2024, when he played for the Doosan Bears against the Hanwha Eagles at Jamsil, marking a return after 650 days. Two years ago, he played for SSG Landers and Doosan as an injured temporary foreign player. After his contract ended, he underwent elbow surgery last year and returned to Korea on May 28 this year by signing an Asia quota contract with KIA for a total of $100,000.

At that time, he was known by the nickname "Potato" due to his shy personality and simple appearance. Having played only in the independent leagues before making his first professional debut through the KBO League, Shirakawa showed clear signs of nervousness in front of large crowds two years ago. The game against Lotte at Busan Sajik Baseball Stadium, which was packed with spectators, was his worst performance, where he allowed 8 runs (7 earned) in just 1⅓ innings.

Two years later, the Japanese youth who used to get nervous in front of full-house crowds was no more. Amidst 25,000 spectators (the 16th sellout of the season), Shirakawa dominated the Lotte lineup, throwing a total of 85 pitches including a fastball reaching up to 152 km/h (44 pitches), sliders (19 pitches), curves (10 pitches), forkballs (7 pitches), and changeups (5 pitches).

He worked in sync with veteran catcher Kim Tae-gun (37), adjusting his approach for each batter. Against veteran batters, he used breaking balls like changeups and curves to target the inside-outside corners, inducing groundouts. Meanwhile, against younger batters, he threw fastballs in the high 140s to reduce his pitch count.

The KIA lineup also provided strong offensive support with 10 hits, including a grand slam by Adelin Rodriguez and Kim Do-young's 16th home run. With this, Shirakawa secured his first win in the KBO League since the August 16, 2024, game against the Suwon KT Wiz, after 657 days.

After the game, KIA manager Lee Beom-ho praised Shirakawa, saying, "Shirakawa pitched better than expected. It must have been a big burden to return to the KBO League, but he showed his full capabilities perfectly. Most importantly, it was encouraging that his velocity didn't drop even after throwing nearly 90 pitches. His battery chemistry with Kim Tae-gun was also excellent. We expect him to be a major asset in our starting rotation moving forward."

Despite the upcoming Moonlight Series against Samsung Lions the very next day, the KIA dugout was lively. Players were busy preparing to celebrate Shirakawa's first win, filling ice boxes with water and making other arrangements.

The spectators also joined in the celebration. Today was Shirakawa's 25th birthday. While he was being interviewed by broadcasters, home fans at first base surprised him with a birthday song, giving him an unforgettable memory.

Shirakawa expressed his emotions, saying, "It was my first time pitching on my birthday. Coming to KIA and making my first start here, and then winning, I think this will be a birthday I'll never forget."

He also didn't forget to reflect on himself critically. Shirakawa stated, "Today's (4th) pitching had both points for self-reflection and positive aspects. I had fewer mistakes with my breaking balls and didn't allow many extra-base hits. My pitching precision has improved compared to two years ago. I will fill in the gaps as I continue to play games."

He added, "I lost to Lotte two years ago, so I wanted to make up for it today. The batters scored many runs, allowing me to pitch in a comfortable state. However, as the innings progressed, my first-strike ratio decreased, which negatively affected both the fielders and my pitching tempo. When the coach came up in the 5th inning, I thought I might be replaced, but I finished the game."

This victory, achieved after a long rehabilitation, was even more meaningful. Shirakawa said, "During last year's rehabilitation, I thought that if I could complete it well, I could return to Korea. Not only the KIA players but also the Tokushima club sent me lots of support. I want to share the joy of victory with everyone. In my next start, I will strive to pitch more innings."

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*This content was translated by AI.