Jackpot! 'From convenience store and movie theater part-time jobs to a $2,600 signing bonus, then a stellar postseason performance' — 32-year-old left-hander Ray Ker of the Kim Ha-seong team sparks buzz in the U.S. as a human triumph

*This content was translated by AI.

An unknown pitcher who once worked at convenience store registers and movie theater ticket booths has finally delivered a dazzling performance on the Major League postseason stage, stirring great emotion locally in the United States. It is a miraculous 'human victory' drama written by Ray Ker, the 32nd-year-old left-handed pitcher for the Atlanta Braves.

At the age of 32, Ker secured his first career postseason start opportunity in Game 3 of the National League Wild Card Series (NLWS, best-of-three) against the Philadelphia Phillies, held at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia, on the 2nd (Korean time). He pitched a scoreless gem for 3⅓ innings. Amid the intense pressure unique to fall baseball, he remained unshaken and confidently threw his pitches, solidly guarding the pitcher's mound. It was also his first appearance in fall baseball.

The path Ker has walked has been nothing short of a series of twists and turns. According to local media, including Major League specialist Mike Rodriguez, after graduating from Hug High School in Reno, Nevada, in 2013, he played college baseball for two years at Mendocino College but ultimately quit the sport and returned home after hitting the high wall of reality. With his glove set aside, Ker was handed jobs at a convenience store register and a movie theater ticket booth to make a living.

The one who rewound his nearly finished baseball clock was the new head coach of the Lassen College baseball team. After the coach's persistent persuasion, Ker decided to return to the pitcher's mound.

Upon returning to the baseball world, Ker entered the professional scene in 2017 with a signing bonus of just $2,000 (approximately 2.6 million won). Far from the glamorous spotlight, he silently endured for a long stretch of seven years in the minor leagues, where poor treatment and long bus rides were the norm. After passing through the Seattle Mariners' minor league system and then the San Diego Padres, he donned the Atlanta uniform ahead of the 2024 season.

Even amid the crossroads of release and survival that continued into his 30s, Ker finally established himself on the big league stage after refining his command. This season, he served as a bullpen specialist for Atlanta, appearing in nine regular-season games (one start) without a win or loss, recording only two holds. In the game against Philadelphia on the 2nd, he performed well in his designated opener role before leaving the mound, even receiving a standing ovation.

A 32-year-old veteran who rose from convenience store part-timer to fall baseball starting pitcher. Ray Ker's scoreless performance over 3⅓ innings is delivering a powerful resonance and drawing enthusiastic praise for those who did not give up on their dreams and persevered to the end.

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*This content was translated by AI.