Major Leagues Latest Castoff Eyes Redemption With Tigers
By Kang Seung-woo
Staff Reporter
Former Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Seo Jae-weong wants his new team, the Kia Tigers, to rebuild their toppled reputation by helping them win a 10th Korean Series title.
Seo, 30, who finished his 10-year career in the U.S Major Leagues and signed a 1.5 billion won ($1.6) deal with his hometown club last week, arrived in Korea Tuesday morning.
``I feel glad to play for the Tigers,'' he said. ``During my stint with the team, I will do my utmost to clinch a 10th league trophy.''
The Gwangju-based Haitai Tigers, a predecessor of the Kia Tigers, won nine championships in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), which began in 1982. But since 1997, when the team won its last title, it has not returned to the Korean Series.
``Of course, I still miss finishing my career in the United States,'' Seo said. ``However, I will make up for it by leading the Tigers to the championship.
``The Tigers stayed on the bottom of the standings this season, and I think my addition to the team will not make a difference much. But I hope that coaching staffs and players get determined and will have better marks next year.''
Before returning to Korea, Seo, who had a 28-40 record with a 4.60 ERA in the big leagues with the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Rays and the New York Mets, sought to play in the Japanese league, where his former Mets boss Bobby Valentine manages the Chiba Lotte Marlins.
``I hit a limit in America and looked for a team in Japan,'' he said. ``The Marlins and I almost neared inking a contract, but my family worried about me adjusting to a new league, and after discussions, I decided to play in Korea.''
With Seo's comeback, the possibility of him joining the Korean national baseball team is arising at the Beijing Olympic playoffs in March, but he deferred his decision.
``I have not pitched since September and my priority is joining the Tigers' winter training in Guam in mid-January and adapting to my new team'' Seo said. ``After then, I will consider the playoffs.''
He played for the national team at the World Baseball Classic, where South Korea reached the semifinals after beating baseball powerhouses the United States and Japan.
``I am behind my prime, but it will turn out that I still have fuel remaining in me,'' he said.