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| Dustin Nippert of the Doosan Bears poses with the award he received from the Seoul Metropolitan Government at City Hall, honoring his welfare work, Monday. / Courtesy of Doosan Bears |
By Baek Byung-yeul
American baseball player Dustin Nippert, who has been pitching for the Doosan Bears of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) League, has been inviting children at welfare centers to his team's games once a month since 2013.
Not only does he provide tickets for them at his own expense, but he has also given out snacks, jerseys, baseball caps and autographed baseballs. So far, he has done this for 15 games and invited around 500 children.
Honoring his goodwill, the Seoul Metropolitan City Government named him the "Best Sponsor" in its 14th Seoul Welfare Awards, Monday.
"I don't think I've done anything great, but I feel good and am honored to receive such an award," Nippert was quoted as saying through a translator. "Though I don't have much time to stay in Korea after the season, I have another plan to visit children who cannot afford to enjoy baseball games."
When asked why he has been inviting children to Bears games, Nippert said he wanted to return the love he's received from Korea.
"While I was in the Major Leagues, I learned from veteran players about (inviting children) and it made me feel good seeing them enjoying the baseball games," he said. "I would like to return something to this society that I now belong to. Though I never had such difficulties while growing up, I would like to help children who are in need now."
Making his KBO League debut in 2011, the 35-year-old right-handed hurler has been displaying his dominance on the mound, recording 76 wins in 150 games in six seasons, which is the second-most career wins set by a foreign player, following former Bears pitcher Danny Rios with 90 wins.
Though Nippert had an injury-riddled season last year, throwing only 90 innings in 20 games, he is having a breakthrough season this year. As of Tuesday, he started in 23 games and has been leading the league in wins with 18 and an ERA of 2.91 while throwing 142.1 innings.
