"Three players changed their jersey numbers because of me..." LG's warm welcome moves even a foreign investor with 112 MLB wins: "Regret over missing the World Series title will be resolved with a KBO championship" [Interview]

*This content was translated by AI.

LG Twins' new foreign pitcher Carlos Kara-sco (39) expressed gratitude to players who readily changed their jersey numbers for him.

Kara-sco said ahead of the match against Kiwoom Heroes at Jamsil on the 28th, "When I first signed my contract, the team asked what number I wanted. I naturally told them number 59. I didn't know that number 59 belonged to player Park Jun-seong until I arrived here today (the 28th)."

Number 59 has been Kara-sco's jersey number since his debut with the Cleveland Indians (now Cleveland Guardians) in Major League Baseball (MLB) in 2009, and he has worn it continuously throughout his 17-year professional career.

Even after joining LG on the 22nd for a total contract value of $360,000 (approximately 500 million won), he did not change his number. Kara-sco is a veteran who has recorded 112 wins in MLB alone. In 2017, he achieved 18 wins, which was both his personal best and the most wins across all of MLB that season.

To fulfill Kara-sco's wish, no fewer than three players and coaches willingly changed their jersey numbers. First, rookie Park Jun-seong (19), selected 18th overall in the second round of the 2026 KBO Rookie Draft, changed his number from 59 to 60. Seo Young-jun (20, selected in the fifth round of the 2025 draft), who previously wore number 60, switched to number 87. Meanwhile, LG's veteran defensive and base-running coach Ahn Ik-hoon (30) changed his number from 87 to 100.

Upon learning this news late, he said, "I heard that three other players changed their numbers because of me. First, I plan to meet with Park Jun-seong to ask what he likes. A gift should be something the recipient truly loves. Number 59 is an extremely special and precious number for me, so I want to take this opportunity to express my gratitude."

The warm welcome from the LG team also left a positive first impression on Kara-sco. He said, "The atmosphere of the LG team felt very good when I first arrived. I received positive energy. In the locker room, each player came to greet me personally one by one. It seemed that mutual respect is deeply embedded in the team culture, which made me feel good. I believe team unity is the most important thing. I also want to create an atmosphere of mutual respect to the best of my ability, and I saw that in the clubhouse." He smiled.

Among all foreign players who have joined the KBO League, Kara-sco's name carries legendary status. He became familiar to Korean baseball fans by playing alongside Choo Shin-soo (44), now an advisor to SSG Landers' owner, during their prime years in Cleveland. Kara-sco said, "I am grateful to God for giving me this opportunity. I came to Korea because I saw it as a great chance for my career. LG emphasized how much they needed me, and I happily accepted the offer."

Recommendations from former teammates who played in the KBO League also contributed to his decision to come to Korea. Kara-sco explained, "The biggest reason was that I needed a new experience. Many friends who have played in the KBO League, such as Eliezer Hernandez and Adam Plutko, introduced me to its advantages. I played baseball with Plutko at Cleveland from 2016 to 2017, and Hernandez (Elie) played with me this year in Atlanta."

He continued, "Both of them told me a lot about the passionate support from fans. I learned that Korean baseball is characterized by fans cheering nonstop from the first inning to the ninth. Thanks to such support, they said their time in Korea became a good experience and cherished memory."

As an active player who has also performed in the major leagues this year, expectations are high. At the same time, concerns arise due to his advanced age and relatively low pitching velocity. In response, Kara-sco firmly stated, "Throughout my long career, I have learned how to deliver good performance despite pressure and burden. I also know exactly how to shake off that burden."

He further emphasized, "Fans' expectations come not as a burden but as exciting anticipation. We can play baseball because of the fans, and we can enjoy exciting games thanks to their passionate support. It is important to always strive to meet those expectations."

Although he immediately faced Korea's intense heat, he did not worry much. Kara-sco said, "Summers in the United States are also quite hot. Moreover, baseball seasons start in cold weather, go through hot weather, and end in cool weather. Having played through such cycles for a long time, I know how to cope with them." He added, "I have experienced Seoul for about three days since arriving in Korea, and I really liked it. However, the main reason I came to Korea is to play baseball. Meeting my teammates today made me feel their passion and love," he smiled.

He wanted to achieve a championship in Korea that he could not win in the United States. For Kara-sco, the most memorable season in his 17-year career was not 2017, when he won the MLB wins title, but 2016, when his team narrowly missed the World Series championship. At that time, Cleveland lost to the Chicago Cubs with a record of three wins and four losses, missing the title by a narrow margin.

Kara-sco said, "The 2016 season, when we reached the World Series, is the most memorable in my career. We were so close to getting a championship ring that it will remain etched in my memory until the end of my career and even after I retire from baseball."

When asked if he wanted to resolve that regret with an LG championship this year, Kara-sco revealed his determination by saying, "That is my goal." For this to happen, Kara-sco's role will be crucial. In the second half of the season, both LG's pitching and batting have faltered, resulting in a win-loss record of 2 wins and 8 losses, placing them at the bottom of the standings. Naturally, they have slipped from first place to third, and the gap with the first-place Samsung Lions has widened to five games.

The most criticized issue is the starting rotation, which posted an ERA of 8.22 in the last 10 games, ranking dead last by a wide margin. This is significantly higher than the ninth-place KIA Tigers' ERA of 6.75. LG hopes that Kara-sco will bring weight to the starting rotation with his rich experience.

Kara-sco explained, "The most important thing is to quickly understand batters' tendencies. One of my strengths is that I enjoy studying and researching batters. While studying them, I must quickly grasp how they react to my pitches. Basically, I plan to showcase the pitching skills I have learned in the United States so far."

He also sent a message of encouragement to his struggling starting teammates. Kara-sco said, "Throughout the season, there are always ups and downs. Professional players learn even through such moments. We can certainly overcome these current difficulties, and our team now has only one thing left to do: climb up." He raised his voice.

He further added, "I plan to showcase the pitching skills I have learned and possess so far. Since I believe my pitches and experience can also help other pitchers, I will make sure to effectively share what I have with my teammates."

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*This content was translated by AI.