▲ Carlos Carrasco, who signed with the LG Twins
Professional baseball team LG Twins, which has fallen to third place amid a recent six-game losing streak, has thrown down a winning card by recruiting a major-league heavyweight.
LG announced today (July 22) that it has signed veteran right-handed pitcher Carlos Carrasco (39), who has recorded 112 wins and 105 losses in Major League Baseball (MLB), for a salary of $360,000 for the remainder of the season.
When foreign starting pitcher Yonny Chirinos struggled with elbow pain this season, LG signed hard-throwing relief pitcher Yaxel Rios last month. Recently, determining that a foreign starting pitcher was needed, LG released Rios.
Originally from Venezuela, Carrasco is a heavyweight big leaguer who has played in the major leagues from 2009 until this year.
Over 17 MLB seasons, he has appeared in 343 games (286 as a starter), posting 112 wins, 105 losses, and a 4.24 ERA.
His record is comparable to that of Park Chan-ho (124 wins and 98 losses), the Asian pitcher with the most wins in MLB history.
He achieved double-digit wins for four consecutive seasons from the 2015 season to the 2018 season while playing for the Cleveland Guardians (then the Indians).
In particular, he served as the team's ace by recording 18 wins, 6 losses, a 3.29 ERA, and 226 strikeouts in the 2017 season, and 17 wins, 10 losses, a 3.38 ERA, and 231 strikeouts in the 2018 season.
Diagnosed with leukemia in 2019, he battled the illness before returning after about three months of treatment, and was subsequently named the American League Comeback Player of the Year.
Carrasco enjoyed a second prime while posting 15 wins, 7 losses, and a 3.97 ERA with the New York Mets in 2022, but has since failed to display his former form.
This year, he made eight relief appearances in the big leagues for the Atlanta Braves, recording no decisions and a 5.94 ERA, while posting two wins, one loss, and a 2.55 ERA in eight games (six starts) in Triple-A minor league play.
Through the club, Carrasco stated, "I am excited to join the LG Twins, who have the best fans," adding, "I will contribute so that LG can bring home the championship trophy once again."
(Photo courtesy of LG Twins, Yonhap News)
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