“I will support the LG Twins for the rest of my life and I can’t explain what they mean to me”
LG Twins foreign pitcher Adam Plutko (32), who had a lot to say and a lot to lose, finally left Korea after failing to pitch in the Korean Series. The LG Twins announced on the 27th that “Plutko has been working hard on his rehabilitation, but after consultation with the team, it was determined that it was difficult for him to appear in the Korean Series, so he will depart for the United States on the 27th.”
Plutko, who has been in an LG uniform since last year, went 15-5 with a 2.39 ERA in 162 innings pitched in 28 games, forming a top foreign one-two punch with Casey Kelly. However, Plutko disappeared from the mound in late September. A bout with gallbladder symptoms sidelined her for a month.
This spelled disaster. Plutko’s return was in Game 2 of the playoffs against the Kiwoom Heroes. The tide turned as Plutko was tagged for six runs (four earned) on eight hits in 1⅔ innings, and LG couldn’t overcome an early 0-6 deficit, losing 6-7. After winning the first game to take control of the series, LG began to feel a sense of urgency in the second game. The fears were realized. In the end, LG dropped Games 3 and 4 at Gocheok Sky Dome and failed to advance to the Korean Series, a shocking ending. After finishing the regular season in second place, the team suffered an “upset” against regular season champion Kiwoom.
Still, with 15 wins and a sub-2 ERA in the regular season, Plutko was a league-proven pitcher that LG clearly needed. After re-signing with LG, Plutko has been one of the hardest pitchers to hit this year. The problem is that the expiration date was the first half. In the first half alone, Plutko pitched 102 innings in 17 games, going 11-1 with a 2.21 ERA and an ace-like performance.
LG was hoping for a different ending than last year, but they were in for an unbelievable surprise. Plutko made only four appearances in the second half of the season and disappeared from the mound after giving up one run on six hits in four innings against the NC Dinos at Changwon NC Park on August 26. This time, it was due to a pelvic bone contusion. Initially, he was expected to return in four to five weeks, but Plutko was unsure of his condition and delayed his return. Fast forward to today, more than two months later, and LG has decided to give Plutko the benefit of the doubt.
Plutko, who ultimately had to give up his Korean Series start and leave Korea, took to LG’s official YouTube channel to say one last goodbye to LG fans before departing for the United States.
First, Plutko said, “LG Twins fans, thank you so much for the past two years. I can’t thank you enough for being a sanctuary for my family. My son went to school here and my wife loved Korea so much, so thank you so much for making this a special time for all of us,” he thanked fans.
“My teammates, you know how I feel about you guys, we’ve been working really hard for the last two years, and I’ve been trying to help the LG Twins win when I’m on the mound and when I’m not,” Plutko continued, “Hyun-soo Kim has set a great example, and I firmly believe that the LG Twins are building a dynasty, and I feel very blessed to be a part of that, even if it’s just a small part, and I’m so thankful. Words can’t describe how grateful I am.”
Finally, Plutko cheered on LG’s Korean Series victory. “The LG Twins are going to win the Korean Series and they have a one-team mentality. I will support the LG Twins for the rest of my life and I can’t explain what they mean to me. They will continue to move forward and they will win. Go LG Twins! Thank you!” he concluded.
The fact that Plutko left a message thanking LG fans and wishing the team a Korean Series victory even as he was leaving the organization is a virtual gesture of goodwill, but it seems like he’s long since turned his back on the fans.
Flutko is no longer in Korea. LG, which is trying to win the Korean Series for the first time in 29 years since 1994, will be without a foreign pitcher.
LG head coach Yoon Kyung-yeop named Kelly the first starter for the Korean Series. Kelly pitched 178⅔ innings in 30 games this season, going 10-7 with a 3.83 ERA. Now in his fifth year in Korea, Kelly has had his worst season since joining the organization, especially compared to last year when he led the league with a 16-4 record and 2.54 ERA in 166⅓ innings over 27 games.
However, after going 6-5 with a 4.44 ERA in the first half of the year, Kelly seemed to settle down in the second half, going 4-2 with a 2.90 ERA, and he’s been strong in big games, so he deserves the nod.
The role of the homegrown pitchers behind Kelly will also be important. Right-hander Choi Won-tae, whom LG acquired in a trade in July, will be crucial. Currently the favorite to start Game 2 of the Korean Series, Choi was a solid pitcher with a 6-4 record and 3.25 ERA in his youth, but after joining LG, he went just 3-3 with a 6.70 ERA.
It will be interesting to see what right-hander Im Chan-kyu, who had the best season of his career this year, has to offer. In 30 games this year, Lim went 14-3 with a 3.42 ERA in 144⅔ innings pitched. He was so desperate that he delayed his free agency, but since September, he’s gone 4-1 with a 2.88 ERA, adding more stability, and we’re looking forward to seeing how he performs in the Korean Series.
LG was already preparing for Plutko’s absence. By clinching the regular season title early, LG was able to start planning for the Korean Series with more time to spare and is now more hungry than ever to win. Now they just need to prove it. You never 안전놀이터 know in baseball. NC has also been making waves in the postseason, winning all four games of their postseason series despite being without “20-win ace” Eric Peddy.
Game 1 of the Korean Series will be held at Jamsil Stadium on April 7. It will be LG’s first Korean Series in 21 years, since 2002. LG’s opponent for the series has yet to be determined. The playoffs haven’t even begun for the KT Wiz, who finished second in the regular season, and the NC, who are undefeated in four postseason games. LG’s Korean Series opponent will be determined in the playoffs on April 30. Unlike the Korean Series, which is a best-of-seven series, the playoffs are a best-of-five series.