'Former Kiwoom 'Lucky Charm' Dawsen Makes Emotional Return After 1½ Years in Taiwan! "I Thought My Baseball Career Was Over..."

*This content was translated by AI.

Lonnie Dawsen (31), an 'overseas player' who was widely loved as a 'lucky charm' while playing for the Kiwoom Heroes in the KBO League, overcame a severe knee injury and made an emotional return on the Taiwan Professional Baseball League (CPBL) stage.

Having joined Rakuten Monkeys as their new foreign investor, Dawsen met with local reporters from Yahoo Taiwan ahead of his debut on the 8th, saying, "I suffered a serious injury over the past year and a half and at one point doubted whether my baseball career was coming to an end." He added, "It is truly meaningful and precious to have the opportunity to step back onto the field," expressing his overwhelming emotions.

In July 2024, while still with Kiwoom, Dawsen suffered bad luck during a defensive play when he collided heavily with then-teammate outfielder Lee Yong-gyu. The accident resulted in a major injury that shook his baseball career—a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee—and he ultimately underwent surgery in August, ending his season.

Before the injury, Dawsen's performance was dazzling. After joining Kiwoom as a replacement for Edison Russell in the 2023 season, he recorded a .330 batting average, 11 home runs, 57 RBIs, and an OPS of 0.907 in 95 games during the 2024 season, engaging in fierce competition for the batting title with Guillermo Heredia (SSG) and Victor Reyes (Lotte). His career KBO batting average reached .332 (203 hits in 611 at-bats), showcasing his precise hitting, while his unique cheerful showmanship won him the exclusive love of fans. However, due to the aftermath of the injury, he had to part ways with Kiwoom after the season.

After proving his health by performing well in 31 games with 8 home runs and an OPS of 0.966 in the U.S. independent league (Atlantic League), Dawsen sparked rumors of a return to Korea when he posted a photo of the 'Ulsan Whales' whale mascot on social media in January, as the first citizen baseball team. Ultimately, however, his final destination was Rakuten in Taiwan. Rakuten, which had been struggling with a severe slump in its lineup and failing to average even three runs per game, suddenly extended a love call to Dawsen.

Returning to the professional stage after a long rehabilitation period—more than 1½ years later—not from an independent league but directly back to pro ball, Dawsen said, "I originally thought I would never return to the baseball field again. But now that I can play in games again and continue playing baseball, I feel truly lucky and grateful," unable to hide his emotional reaction.

When asked about his hitting style, Dawsen showed confidence: "I am convinced that I am an excellent hitter. I have good plate vision and patience, and I am a spray hitter who can hit the ball in all directions of the field." He then smiled and added, "I don't want to give too much information to other teams," before joking, "I just want to say that playing as a center fielder is somewhat burdensome," displaying his characteristic cheerful wit.

Still unfamiliar with Taiwanese pitchers, he emphasized, "People around me have told me that the styles of Taiwanese and Korean pitchers are quite similar. Based on my experience in Korea, I will adapt quickly."

On this day, Rakuten manager Zeng Hao-chu immediately placed Dawsen as the third hitter and left fielder ahead of the away game against Fubon Guardians, stating it was "a decision made considering the overall cohesion of the team lineup," while expressing strong expectations.

Although it was the long-awaited return game, his bat felt somewhat heavy, likely due to the gap in actual competition. Starting for Rakuten, Dawsen recorded three at-bats with no hits, one hit-by-pitch, and one strikeout against the Fubon pitching staff, failing to get a hit. Although he did not show his form in his first game, it is interpreted that he focused on adjusting his competitive sharpness, such as reaching base once via a hit-by-pitch.

Dawsen, who has started his second baseball life in Taiwan after fully recovering from the injury, will be closely watched to see if he can leave behind the regrets of his return game and replicate the glory of his time with Kiwoom.

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*This content was translated by AI.