"I'll stop him myself if he goes to Japan." Austin can't go anywhere! LG's foreign investor father, why did Coach Yeom Kyung-yeop volunteer?

*This content was translated by AI.

Will LG Twins foreign hitter Austin Dean (33) be able to finish his playing career in Korea? For now, the team's commander is firm in his will.

LG Coach Yeom Kyung-yeop stated firmly ahead of the Seoul Jamsil Lotte game on the 12th, "Austin is a player specialized for the KBO League. He must not go to Japan. If he tries to go, I will stop him with both hands."

Austin is hailed as one of the top foreign hitters in the KBO League, not just for LG. Upon joining in 2023, he recorded 23 home runs and 95 RBIs, leading LG to a Korean Series championship. Since then, he has improved even further, hitting a .300 batting average and 30 home runs for two consecutive years, bringing LG another Korean Series trophy in 2025.

This year, he is challenging for the MVP award, a title LG has never won in its 45-year history. As of the end of the game on the 12th, he is delivering top performance with a .349 batting average (88 hits in 252 at-bats) in 63 games, 19 home runs, 59 RBIs, 53 runs scored, a .420 on-base percentage, a .659 slugging percentage, and an OPS (on-base plus slugging) of 1.079.

The commander attributes his secret to 100% adaptation to Korean culture and the KBO League. Coach Yeom explained, "Austin is a player specialized for the KBO League. He faced difficulties in defense and various aspects last year, but this year he prepared well from camp. There may be technical aspects, but as his mental maturity has grown, he has become much better."

Foreign players who have performed at an MVP level in the KBO League often head to Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) or the U.S. Major Leagues (ML). The Major Leagues are always the dream stage, and NPB offers significantly higher salaries, making it difficult for KBO teams to retain them.

However, it is hard to find players who have succeeded after moving there. While there are differences in league levels, the atmosphere in Korea, the U.S., and Japan regarding respect for foreign players also differs. Having sent many foreign players before, Coach Yeom reminded everyone of this point and assumed the role of a father.

Coach Yeom stated, "If Austin plays in the KBO League style, he will be treated better in the Major Leagues. However, I believe it is better for him to retire in Korea. If he plays here, he can retire while being treated as the best player." He added with a smile, "He probably doesn't plan to go to Japan, but if he does, I will stop him myself like a father. Haven't I sent many players to Japan before, such as Sanchez (SK), Van Hecken, and Brumba (all Nexen)?"

It is believed that Austin's prime will unfold for some time. He is evaluated as having fully adapted and settled into his rhythm. Coach Yeom expressed his expectation, "I think the next two years will be his prime. His own baseball style is firmly established. He doesn't even think about upper swings or batting trends. Like Choi Hyung-woo, players who have established their style remain steady and consistently produce their own results regardless of trends. I expect Austin to show his best form over the next two years."

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*This content was translated by AI.