Kenny Rosenberg / Captured from Rosenberg’s Instagram account
Left-hander Kenny Rosenberg signed with the Kiwoom Heroes within the Korea Baseball Group (KBO) in November 2024, however the transfer was two years within the making.
The Heroes first approached the 29-year-old American after Rosenberg’s first main league season with the Los Angeles Angels in 2022, after which throughout and after the 2023 season. Every time, the Angels refused to let him depart.
Then after the 2024 season, during which he made seven appearances in Main League Baseball (MLB) and 21 begins in Triple-A, Rosenberg instructed the Angels brass that he was not pleased with the place he stood within the group. They appeared extra intent on giving youthful starters an opportunity to pitch and Rosenberg felt he wasn’t getting used as a starter.
The Angels lastly allowed him to take his expertise to South Korea and Rosenberg is wanting ahead to being a full-time starter on the high of the Heroes‘ rotation.
„I get to go and be a beginning pitcher for the Kiwoom Heroes. And that is it,“ Rosenberg instructed Yonhap Information Company in a Zoom interview on Friday. „Clearly, efficiency will dictate a few of these issues. However I get a possibility to simply go pitch. There is not any query about my standing with the group or my function. They need me to take the ball each 5 – 6 days and be that man for them. And that is what was most engaging to me: the chance to simply do my job and never fear about the rest.“
KBO groups are every permitted to enroll to 3 overseas gamers, with a most two pitchers. The Heroes would be the solely group carrying one overseas pitcher this yr, with the 9 different groups all having signed two overseas pitchers to associate with two place gamers.
Rosenberg will probably be one of many oldest beginning pitchers for the Heroes, who plan to present lately drafted youngsters some alternatives.
Rosenberg, coming into his tenth skilled season out of California State College, Northridge, with near 800 innings below his belt, mentioned he would like to tackle a mentorship function for youthful teammates and develop into „a constructive affect.“ However he additionally famous he’d first wish to construct robust relationships.
„I do not anticipate to be throwing my first bullpen in spring coaching in a couple of weeks and have a bunch of fellows asking me questions,“ he mentioned. „However what I do plan to do is to go about my enterprise the identical approach that I at all times do and to guide by instance early on and to indicate them how critical I’m.
„Hopefully in flip, all through the season, I will construct a few of these relationships,“ he continued. „And if I could make a pair guys just a bit bit higher and carry them up, that will be an enormous win for the group.“
To study extra in regards to the KBO, Rosenberg mentioned he spoke with Trey Hillman, who managed the SK Wyverns (at the moment SSG Landers) to the 2018 Korean Collection title, and Wil Crowe, who pitched for the Kia Tigers right here final yr. Rosenberg performed within the minor leagues with Dietrich Enns, who pitched for the LG Twins in 2024.
He additionally requested the Heroes to ship him some video of KBO video games, particularly ones that includes left-handers, and he observed „a considerably completely different recreation“ than the one within the U.S.
For one, he mentioned the KBO is „much more a contact oriented,“ whereas within the majors, even hitters within the backside third of the lineup could be house run threats. However Rosenberg mentioned he’s no stranger to this model of baseball due to his expertise within the Massive West Convention in faculty, which featured bunting and emphasis on contact.
„Being a beginning pitcher, your job isn’t just to punch guys out. You have to get fast outs, be environment friendly and maintain runners,“ he mentioned. „I am not an overwhelming pitcher from a stuff perspective. So these are some issues that I’ve truly needed to do even within the minor leagues for a very long time now. So it is one thing I am very comfy with. This model of baseball truly matches what I love to do.“
Kenny Rosenberg / Captured from Rosenberg’s Instagram account
Rosenberg, who throws the four-seam fastball, curveball, changeup and gyro slider, added he’ll embrace the problem of going through „very good“ hitters within the KBO. He’s assured in all of his pitches and he would not see the necessity to add to or change his arsenal.
„I will do some unorthodox issues on the mound,“ he mentioned with a smile. „My repertoire just isn’t one thing I believe that many of those hitters have seen and I do not assume I will probably be pitching them the way in which that they are used to being pitched. So I believe it’s going to be a very enjoyable problem to see a unique model of baseball.“
Having already skilled the automated ball-strike system and pitch clock within the minors — the previous was carried out within the KBO final yr and the latter will probably be launched this yr — Rosenberg mentioned he could have „a way of consolation and familiarity“ with the brand new know-how.
Getting into his first season within the new nation, all Rosenberg has to do is „to concentrate on the controllables.“
„In the beginning, I need to be an amazing teammate. I need to earn the belief and respect of my teammates and my coaches, my interpreter, and all people throughout the group. I believe that may care for a number of issues throughout the group and set us up for achievement no matter what the win-loss report is,“ he mentioned. „Secondly, I need to make each begin. I need to be wholesome. I need to be prepared and capable of take the ball every time they want me to. If they need me to pitch into the eighth and ninth inning, I am not going to say no. If something, I will be asking for extra.“
Rosenberg added he additionally desires to be „constant from a private perspective“ round his teammates.
„I need to be the identical man within the clubhouse whatever the approach that I carry out on the sphere,“ he mentioned. „I need to ensure that I care for my enterprise, I do my exercises and care for the entire issues that I must do bodily in addition to the way in which that I act throughout the clubhouse personally, no matter efficiency or what the win-loss report is. If I can do these few issues, I believe the remainder takes care of itself.“ (Yonhap)
