*This content was translated by AI.
A 'giant' with a career total of 112 wins in Major League Baseball has arrived on Korean soil and now calls himself a 'rookie.' While his overwhelming pitching power and seasoned ability to manage high-pressure situations shone brightly, his attitude and dignity toward teammates truly reflected that of a 'world-class' player who had reached the pinnacle in the Big Leagues. This is the story of Carlos KARAisco (39), LG Twins' new foreign pitcher.
On the 11th, KARAisco made his first start against the Kiwoom Heroes at Seoul Gocheok Sky Dome in the '2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League,' pitching six innings with five hits allowed, five strikeouts, one hit-by-pitch, and two earned runs (85 pitches), delivering a strong performance that led his team to an 8-3 victory. This was a hard-fought first win in just his second KBO League appearance.
That day, KARAisco dominated the Kiwoom lineup with a fastball clocking up to 150 km/h and a diverse arsenal of five different breaking balls: curveball, slider, forkball, two-seam fastball, and cutter. Following his perfect seven-inning performance against Doosan on the 1st, he continued to retire batters consecutively through the third inning that day, setting an incredible record of '10 consecutive perfect innings (30 consecutive retired batters)' since his debut.
The perfect game streak ended in the bottom of the fourth when Seo Geon-chang hit an infield single, and a crisis emerged in the bottom of the fifth with back-to-back sacrifice flies by Foil that tied the score at 2-2. However, he cleanly closed out the bottom of the sixth inning with strikeouts, completing a six-inning quality start (QS) and proving his potential.
After the game, KARAisco immediately credited his teammates for the victory. He said, "We had to rest for about a week due to the extreme heat, and I thought this was a very important game for the team. I'm happy we wrapped it up with a win." He added, "Even after such a long break, the team stayed united and tackled things step by step from small tasks, which likely led to this positive result."
Despite having a glittering career with over 100 wins in Major League Baseball, KARAisco approached his first KBO League win like a rookie. "I've pitched for a long time in the U.S., but since I came to Korea, I am a 'rookie,'" he said with his signature cheerful smile. He continued, "I may have been a veteran in America, but everything here is a new experience. That's why this first win feels even more special."
Even when his incredible record was broken by a surprise bunt single in the bottom of the fourth, he remained unfazed. "You can't keep pitching perfectly forever," he said. "After that hit, I focused solely on finishing the inning quickly," demonstrating his firm composure.
Especially captivating to all was KARAisco's unique 'routine' upon entering the Korean stage. Since the Doosan game on the 1st, he has refused to step onto the mound until every fielder is in position and ready. The same applied today.
Explaining his reason, KARAisco stated, "Baseball is a team sport. Although I stand alone on the mound, I want to start pitching only when my teammates behind me are fully prepared. This is my way of showing deep respect for them and a personal promise."
His 'love for teammates' did not end there. After completing his six-inning outing, he went into the dugout and personally greeted Song Chan-ui and other teammates, as well as training staff who worked diligently behind the scenes, offering them high-fives. KARAisco smiled, saying, "It's not just players; the staff working hard behind the scenes are also important members of our team. This is a time to express mutual respect."
He also praised Park Dong-won, the newly paired catcher that day. KARAisco said, "Both Ju Hee-hyun and Park Dong-won are excellent catchers. Although we speak different languages, 'baseball' is our common language. Communication with the catchers was perfect," expressing his gratitude to the catching staff.
Finally, he revealed his strong will to learn about the new type of batters in the KBO League. "Korean batters seem to persistently make contact and aim for getting on base. I feel I need more study on batter tendencies and strategies for each count. The runs allowed due to mistakes in the fifth inning are part of the adaptation process, so I will continue to research further," he said, burning with exceptional 'academic enthusiasm' as he prepared for the next game.
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*This content was translated by AI.
