“If you throw well against all teams, you’ll be the most wanted pitcher, but….”
Cam Aldred (28, KIA Tigers) entered the KBO League through the injury replacement foreign player system introduced this season. With Will Crow on the operating table due to an elbow injury in early May, Kia signed a contract with Aldred for 25,000 dollars in down payment, 300,000 dollars in annual salary, and 325,000 dollars in total.
Aldred’s contract was different from other short-term replacement foreign players. In order to take advantage of the short-term replacement foreign player system, a medical certificate is required that an existing player will be injured for more than six weeks. SSG Landers, Doosan Bears and Hanwha Eagles who used this system signed a six-week contract first and then watched the situation later. Among them, Hanwha signed an official contract with Ryan Weiss on the day the six-week expiration date.
Kia signed a contract with Aldred until Nov. 30. It was like a formal contract, not a “short-term contract.” Some criticized that it was a “trick” aimed at the loophole of the system, claiming that it used another foreign player instead of using a replacement card. As there was no KBO restriction clause, there was no problem with the contract itself.
Aldred seemed to adjust to the 스포츠토토 KBO League by displaying relatively steady performances, although not overwhelming. He pitched in his second game against the KT Wiz on June 14, and secured his first win by allowing no runs in five innings. However, as he entered July, his days of wobbling began to increase.
His weaknesses and strengths were clear. Aldred had a hit rate of only 150 percent against left-handed hitters, while he had a hit rate of 284 against right-handed hitters.
This weakness was evident in the game against Doosan Bears on June 30. While Yang did not get a single hit against left-handed hitters, his batting average against right-handed hitters was as high as 57,71. Yang even allowed a home run, and failed to properly block the right-handed hitter’s lower-handed lineup consisting of Heo Kyung-min, Kim Jae-ho and Kim Ki-yeon.
Aldred, who collapsed against Doosan on June 8, his debut, with six runs on six hits, three walks, four strikeouts and six runs in three innings, once again collapsed with eight hits (one home run) and one walk, four strikeouts and seven runs in four ⅓ innings.
Lee Bum-ho, Kia’s manager, also expressed regret. “I pitched well before that, but it was not good for a specific team. If I throw well against all teams, I think I would be the most sought-after pitcher, but I think I had a hard time against Doosan.”
“He also seems confident against teams that have many left-handed hitters. When a left-handed hitter came out, he had more space on his right side, so he could kick the sweeper a little harder, but there were times when he (dropped out of the strike zone) out of fear of being crowded out by left-handed hitters. I thought he was conscious of right-handed hitters.”
As Crowe is on the operating table, he will hardly be able to take the mound this season. He is leading the way, but is in desperate need of rebounding factors such as losing four consecutive games recently, and hence, he is agonizing over whether to accompany Aldred, who clearly shows weaknesses.
Amid this situation, there are also rumors that KIA has contacted another foreign player. He is known to have a lot of experience in the Major League.
According to the starting rotation, Aldred will play in the match against Hanwha in Daejeon on April 4. Will Aldred be able to erase the anxiety he has over himself? The deadline for replacing foreign players is May 15, and he will be able to start the post season only after replacement before then. The time for Kia to make a decision is also approaching.