KIA Tigers players are not allowed to wear No. 18 on their uniforms. The No. 18 that Sun Dong-yeol used when he was a national 寶 player has been permanently replaced. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, 26, who moved to the Los Angeles Dodgers through posting this winter, appeared at the press conference wearing the No. 18 jersey. He won multiple games, earned run average, struck out and won four times in a row with the Orix Buffaloes in the Japanese pro baseball for the third consecutive year.
Shota Imana, 31, a left-hander who signed a contract with the Chicago Cubs earlier this month, also wore the number 18. Kenta Maeda used the number 21 with the Yokohama BayStars, before switching to the number 18. He moved to the Detroit Tigers this time and received the number 18 again.
In Korean and Japanese baseball, "No. 18" is the uniform number that symbolizes the ace.
Lee Sang-gyu (28), who transferred to Hanwha Eagles through the second draft, wore "No. 18." In the LG Twins, he used "No. 48" but changed his number.
Lee Sang-kyu, who met at Hanbat Gymnasium near Daejeon Baseball Stadium on the 18th, said, "I really wanted to wear the No. 18 uniform once."
The second draft held in November last year. Hanwha selected Lee Sang-gyu as the second overall pick in the first round. There was a regret to leave his team, but he was able to transfer because the possibility was recognized.
He joined LG as a seventh-round pick in the second round of the 2015 rookie draft. He pitched a total of 44 games and pitched 45 innings. He had two wins, three losses, four saves and one hold, and an ERA of 6.20.
There's a reason why he wanted to put '18' on it.
"In 2019, I sent a video of my pitching to Yamamoto through an acquaintance to ask for advice," Lee said. It was through a Japanese player I got to know while training in Okinawa. Yamamoto was emerging as the main pitcher of the Orix Buffaloes.
"It was special because I was not tall and had a skinny body. I wanted to throw like Yamamoto," Lee said.
He worked out harder and more sincerely than anyone else. There was also confusion as he tried various things. Spread his wings in the Twins
It may be a reason for not being able to do so.
"I think it's established to some extent now. I didn't come as an FA, so the team won't give me a chance unconditionally. I have to work hard and make the opportunity my own," he said. "I want to find my position. Whether it's the closing or the winning team, I want to have my role."
It is a transfer that could be a turning point in baseball's life. In Lee Sang-gyu, there will be a meaning of changing the number.
Lee took the mound against the Hanwha Eagles at Jamsil Baseball Stadium on May 20 last year and allowed no run in one inning. At the top of the 12th inning with no outs and runners on first base when the score was tying 1-1, he caught pinch hitter EuroGyul with a catcher's double play and handled Noh Si-hwan with a fly ball to center field.
"I thought he would do well, and I want to hear that he is sorry and angry to send him."
What kind of performance will Lee Sang-gyu show this season.