SSG starters 'the final piece of the puzzle'... Elias makes LG Electronics debut

 SSG Landers' new foreign pitcher Roenis Elias, 35, could be the final piece of the starting rotation puzzle in the KBO.

Elias will take the mound against the LG Twins of the 2023 Shinhan Bank Solar KBO League on April 24 at SSG Landers Field in Incheon.

It will be Elias' KBO debut.

SSG started the 2023 season with a foreign pitching staff of Ernie Romero and Kirk McCarty.

However, Romero was released before pitching a single game. After complaining of shoulder pain during spring training in February, Romero didn't make the opening day roster and traveled to the United States for rehabilitation late last month.

Romero's extended absence prompted SSG to look for a replacement, signing Elias for a total of $540,000.

Elias, who made his big league debut with the Seattle Mariners in 2014, went 22-24 with a 3.96 ERA in 133 career big league appearances until last year.

At Triple-A, he has appeared in 96 games, going 24-18 with one save and a 4.93 ERA.

Elias, who represented Cuba in the 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC), started four games at Triple-A this year, going 2-0 with a 5.48 ERA.

When the big league opportunity didn't materialize, Elias turned to the KBO, where he found himself in an SSG uniform.

After arriving in the country on the 7th of this month and adjusting his physical condition, Elias was tested in a Futures (2nd team) League game on the 18th. He started the Futures League game against the Samsung Lions and pitched 3⅔ innings with four hits and one run.

He topped out at 147 mph on his fastball and mixed in a curveball, changeup, and slider.

After watching Elias pitch in person, Futures Head Coach Lee Dae-soo said, "Overall, his delivery was good, and he had good rhythm and balance. His changeup was especially good against right-handed hitters. His curveball was also powerful."

SSG manager Kim Won-hyung, who watched Elias pitch out of the bullpen, was pleased with his performance, saying, "It looks positive."

Current consultant Trey Hillman, who led SSG's predecessor SK Wyverns to the Korean Series title in 2018, and Cuban-born foreign hitter Guillermo Heredia, who played with the team in Seattle, have proven their skills and character, so expectations for Elias are high.

If Elias adapts quickly to the KBO, SSG could have the final piece of the starting lineup puzzle.

SSG had some holes in their starting lineup at the beginning of the season, as Romero was sidelined with an injury and Kim Kwang-hyun missed one start due to shoulder pain.

Rookie Song Young-jin was given the opportunity to start. Song has exceeded expectations, and SSG has been able to withstand Romero's absence.

With the return of Kim Kwang-hyun and McCarty's perfect adjustment to the KBO, SSG is fighting for the top spot even without a foreign pitcher.

Coach Kim plans to move Moon Seung-won from his starting role to the bullpen and go with a six-man rotation of Kim Kwang-hyun, McCarty, Elias, Oh Won-seok, Park Jong-hoon, and Song Young-jin.

If Elias is stable, SSG will have the flexibility to rotate starters and give them breaks, or switch positions like Moon did. 메이저사이트

Coincidentally, Elias' debut came at the height of the "War for First Place.

SSG will play a three-game series against LG on April 23-25. SSG, which was tied for the lead with LG until the 22nd, went 1-9 in games on the 23rd and slipped to second place.

In order to stay in the race, SSG must take the 24th game. They need Elias to have a successful debut.