Casey Kelly (35), the longest-serving expatriate pitcher of the LG Twins in the KBO League, spent an emotional day in the U.S. as a starting pitcher for Triple-A Louisville Bats under the Cincinnati Reds led by his father Pat Kelly (69). It was a meaningful day for the father and son to be together as a team for the first time.
Kelly started the Triple-A game against Charlotte Knights (under the Chicago White Sox) at Louisville Slugger Field in Louisville, Kentucky on the 12th (Korea Standard Time), and allowed one hit and three walks in three innings. He did not strike out, but contributed to his team’s 4-3 walk-off victory with a scoreless pitch.
He moved to the U.S. for the first time in 23 days since a farewell match against Doosan Bears in Jamsil on April 20, which ended in a rain-free game. Kelly, who has his long shoulder-length hair straightened, finished the game with 52 pitches, and threw up to 91 mph (146.5 km) and 89 mph (143.2 km) four-seam fastballs (26), sliders (11), curves (10), change-up (4), and two-seam (1).
He successfully took the mound for the first time in his father’s team. The Major League’s official website “MLB.com ” also said that Kelly’s new manager is his father after returning from Korea and that Pat Kelly had 2,000 wins last month for the seventh time in Minor League history. His first win was in 1986 at the Charleston Rainbows, three years before Casey was born. “The most recent victory was when his son Casey started in his 15th year as a pro,” he said. “Kelly has been with the LG Twins since 2019 and advanced to the postseason every year, and won the championship last year, becoming one of the most loved foreign players in KBO history.”
“Coach Pat Kelly has reunited with his son Casey. Having been a coach for a long time enough to win 2,000 games, he watched his son pitch for the first time in his team,” the Kentucky broadcaster said in a farewell ceremony. “His team LG saw him off beautifully for Kelly, who said goodbye after a successful six-year career in Korea.” 토토사이트
Casey, whose son returned to the U.S. after being released by LG and signed with his father’s team, said after the game, “My dream came true. I can play for my father’s team, and when my father manages me, it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It’s one of the coolest things that can happen to me,” adding, “This was the perfect team for me. My father who knows me the best is the coach, and I look forward to working with pitching coach Virgil Vazquez.”
“It couldn’t have been better. It was like a dream. I was excited and nervous. Parents always want their children to do well and succeed. They usually cheer for their son in the stands or on TV or on video. This game was different,” coach Pat said. “It felt new to me that I supported my son.”
There have been only seven times in the Major League where their fathers and players have teamed up due to managerial and player relations. There were the Philadelphia Athletics Coney-Early Mack Booza from 1910 to 1911 and 1914, the New York Yankees Yogi-Dale Vera Booza from 1985, the Baltimore Orioles’ Carl Ripken Sr. from 1985 and 1987 to 1988, the Kansas City Royals’ Hal-Bryan McRae Booza from 1991 to 1994, the Montreal Expos from 1992 to 1996, the San Francisco Giants’ Felipe-Moises Alu Booza from 2005 to 2006, the Cincinnati Bob-Aaron Booza from 2001 to 2003, and the San Francisco Bruce-Brett Bozzi from 2014 to 2015.
Pat’s 69-year-old father, who is older than him, has only a few days left as a manager. Before he retired, he became an unforgettable memory as he teamed up with his son. “I used to joke to my son that he had to come to pitch for me before he retired. I didn’t expect this to happen this year,” Pat said. “I had to fly to Korea to see my son’s pitching, but now I can watch it live.” It used to be a daily routine for my son to get up at 5 a.m. and watch KBO League games on the other side of the world, but now it’s fun to watch them in person.
Meanwhile, his son Kelly played in a total of 163 games (989 ⅓ innings) for six seasons from 2019 to last month with 73 wins and 46 losses with an ERA of 3.25 strikeouts. He ranked third in overall wins and innings and fourth in strikeouts in the KBO League history. He won the most wins (16 games) in 2022, becoming LG’s longest-serving foreign player. He was strong in big games with four wins and one loss and an ERA of 2.08 in eight postseason games, and became the winning pitcher in Game 5 of the Korean Series last year, bringing LG to the top in 29 years.
In recognition of his victory, he renewed his contract with five wins and eight losses and an earned run average of 4.51 in 19 games this year, and LG Twins said goodbye to Kelly by recruiting Elijah Rodriguez. Although he was notified of his release, Kelly prepared to start the game against Doosan Bears in Jamsil on April 20, when he was scheduled to take the mound. The game became a rain-free game in the top of the third inning, but LG held a grand farewell ceremony for Kelly by spreading a large banner with Kelly’s uniform number 3 and his name on the ground and displaying a video dedicated to the game on the electronic display. Kelly, who bowed to fans who did not leave the stands despite the rain, was greeted with enthusiasm by his teammates.
