Foreign Players Stunned by KBO Fans' Special Affection: "Handwritten Letters in English, Even Portraits Included"

*This content was translated by AI.

For foreign players who began their baseball careers in a strange land, Korean fans offered their heartfelt support in unexpected ways.

In the American home of Austin Dean (33), now in his fourth year with the KBO's LG Twins, gifts from Korean fans are proudly displayed. Since donning an LG uniform in 2023, the number of presents he has received is countless.

Dean recently told StarNews, "I have received so many gifts during my four years in Korea. I get various presents almost every day, and this culture itself shows how passionate KBO League fans are. I never expected to receive gifts as a matter of course, but things made directly by fans are truly special. I still keep the ones I've received over the past few years, even storing them at my home in the U.S."

Among all these gifts, the most memorable was a portrait drawn by a fan — a carefully crafted depiction of Dean and his eldest son, Dallas. Dean recalled, "It was a beautifully painted picture. I was so moved that I sent the artist a direct message on social media to express my gratitude and praise their artistic skill. Such experiences are not something you can have anywhere. It is one of the reasons I enjoy playing in Korea, and it makes me truly respect Korean fans."

Dean was not the only foreign player surprised by the meticulous care shown by Korean fans. Sam Hilliard (32), who joined the KT Wiz this year and is experiencing the KBO League for the first time, recalled a gift of snacks. Although these products are hard to find in Korea, fans discovered that Hilliard liked them and went out of their way to obtain and deliver them.

The care extended beyond the players themselves. Some fans even created name tags engraved with both Hilliard's name and that of his eldest son, Jackson. Hilliard smiled as he said, "Fans always give me many gifts. This is almost unheard of in the U.S., so it was unfamiliar to me. I have received name tags with my name and Jackson's written on them, and they even found snacks similar to what I used to eat in America and gave them as presents. They are incredibly kind and thoughtful. It was something I never expected, and it remains a cherished memory."

Logan Allen (29), who debuted in the KBO with NC Dinos last year and is now in his second season with KT, immediately thought of young fans. "I remember cards, drawings, baseball cards, and letters written directly by young fans," Allen said. "Some were even written in English, which is rare in the U.S. These small gifts made with sincere hearts mean a great deal to me."

The distance between fans and players also differed from what Allen had experienced in American baseball. "In the U.S., fans rarely have opportunities to approach players," he explained. "Everything, including stadium structures, is far more separated. In Korea, I pass by fans every day and can see them frequently."

However, the most significant difference Allen felt was not physical distance but the attention and affection fans directed toward players. "Korean fans know an incredible amount about their favorite players," he said. "They ask where you're from or which high school you attended, and it feels like they already know the answers. In the U.S., fan reactions can change after just a few games, but here, whether I perform well or not, I feel that fans continue to support and love me."

He added, "Players in both the U.S. and Korea face pressure and stress equally. But having fans who love you no matter what makes it easier to get through difficult times," expressing his gratitude.

Wes Benjamin (33), who joined KT in 2022, spent three seasons there before returning to the U.S., has now rejoined the KBO League wearing a Doosan Bears uniform this year. For him, the fans' kindness left a lasting impression. The most enduring memory was not food but written words.

"In the U.S., fans often just ask for autographs and leave," Benjamin said. "But Korean fans go far beyond that — they give handwritten letters and many other thoughtful gifts. I received plenty of food, including kimchi pancakes among the presents. There were also long letters written by fans. Reading those letters always motivates me."

Benjamin was also deeply immersed in the KBO League's cheering culture itself. He particularly enjoyed the cheer songs for Socrates Brito during his time with KIA Tigers and Anthony Alford during his KT days, and he has been listening to Doosan's cheer song since his tenure with KT.

The time spent in Korea and the teams they played for were all different. Yet, a common thread emerged from the memories shared by these four foreign players: fans did not just support them based on their performance on the field. They remembered favorite foods, engraved family names, and sometimes poured their hearts into drawings and letters written word by word.

The "jeong" (affection) that foreign players encountered in Korea was quietly but steadily accumulating within these small yet enduring gifts.

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*This content was translated by AI.