*This content was translated by AI.
Could there be another foreigner who loved LG Twins as much? Casey Kelly (37), who tearfully bid farewell to fans when he left Korea two years ago, was still watching over LG and his former teammates. And a single text message he sent recently became the comfort Austin Dean (33), "another lucky foreign investor," desperately needed after berating himself.
On the 25th, LG secured a comeback victory over NC Dinos with a score of 5-4 in an extra-inning thriller lasting until the 10th inning at Seoul Jamsil Baseball Stadium during a regular-season home game of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League. With this win, third-place LG extended its winning streak to two games, finishing with 62 wins, 1 draw, and 50 losses, narrowing the gap to first-place KT Wiz (64 wins, 3 draws, 42 losses) by five games on the same day they suffered a defeat.
Austin was at the center of the victory. With LG trailing 0-2 in the bottom of the 8th inning with one out and runners on first and third, Austin hit Son Ju-hwan's slider over the left-field wall for an immediate three-run comeback home run, his 33rd of the season. He also gave his all defensively. In the top of the 9th inning with one out and bases loaded, Austin stretched his legs wide from first base to field Seo Ho-cheol's grounder to second base, completing a double play by throwing to Kwon Boon-hyuk.
The game surged again. After LG surrendered an equalizer and then allowed another run in the top of the 10th inning, falling behind 3-4, Austin stepped up once more. As the leadoff batter in the bottom of the 10th, he launched a massive three-run triple that struck the upper section of center field wall. Two subsequent intentional walks loaded the bases, and Hong Chang-gi hit a walk-off single to secure the comeback victory for LG.
It was also a historic day for Austin personally. Adding a double, a single, a home run, and finally a triple on this day, he achieved the 33rd cycle hit in KBO history. This was his first personal record and the fourth in LG club history, following Seo Yong-bin (1994), Ahn Chi-yong (2008), and Lee Byung-kyu (2013). It was the first time an LG foreign player had accomplished this feat.
When asked about the reason for this focus, an unexpected name emerged: Kelly. Playing for LG from 2019 to 2024 over six seasons, Kelly recorded 73 wins and 46 losses with a 3.25 ERA in 163 career KBO games. In 2023, he also contributed to LG's Korean Series championship, their first in 29 years.
He was not loved solely for his skills. Based on his excellent work ethic and approachability, he helped new foreign players adapt and was a player who proactively reached out to Korean teammates. Austin also received help from Kelly when he first joined LG.
Even after leaving the team, their bond did not end. He visited Arizona spring training with his family every year to meet his former LG teammates and continued to follow LG news even in the United States.
After the game, Austin spoke candidly to reporters: "I've been feeling a bit frustrated recently. I felt I was putting too much pressure on myself. I tried to do more than what I needed to do."
In that situation, Kelly's text message arrived before the game that day. Austin relayed, "Kelly told me, 'You are a player who handles high-pressure situations better than anyone else. Instead of fearing it, you should be happy to be in such a situation.' He also said, 'Just do one thing at a time. Accept the situation and enjoy baseball.'" He added, "Today, I really tried to take that advice to heart."
For Austin, this was more than just baseball advice. He expressed gratitude, saying, "In a way, it felt like God sent a message through one of my friends telling me, 'It's going to be okay.' I am truly grateful to have friends who can help during such difficult moments."
The help received from Kelly led Austin to another thought: someday, he too wanted to be such a senior figure for LG's young players.
When asked about the secret to his consistent performance, Austin said, "Everyone has weaknesses. I just try my best to hide mine as much as possible." He added, "I have also failed many times in crucial moments. But through failure in baseball, I learned a great deal, and those experiences have made me who I am today."
He now wants to pass that experience on to younger players. Austin stated firmly, "I want to be a good leader for the young players. Someday when my time playing here ends, young players may take my spot. I believe they will play great roles then, and I want to help them grow."
He also did not hide his expectations for LG's future. Austin smiled broadly, saying, "LG fans can look forward to it. Our team has many promising players, so I think LG's future is bright."
The conversation naturally returned to Kelly. Just as Kelly reached out first to give him strength on this day, a question arose: Will Austin also be able to help LG's younger players after he leaves someday?
In response, Austin said, "Of course. My biggest goal and purpose is to play for the LG Twins team for as long as possible until I retire." He added, "I am someone who knows nothing but baseball. Even after retirement, I have a strong desire to contribute to the LG Twins team in any way I can."
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*This content was translated by AI.
