In this episode of Pacific Swings, David and Jasper talk with Casey Kelly, the man who truly mastered the Pacific swing. After five and a half years with the LG Twins, Casey became Korean baseball royalty - earning the nickname "Jamsil Jesus" and helping end the team's 29-year championship drought in 2023.

From nearly walking away from baseball to becoming a Korean legend, Casey opens up about his transformative journey that took him from reluctant Korea signing to beloved superstar who brought a championship to Seoul.

Key Topics Covered:

• From reluctant Korea signing to five-year legend: How his wife convinced him to take the leap
• Winning the 2023 Korean Series and ending LG's 29-year championship drought
• The emotional farewell ceremony that had the entire stadium in tears
• Korean baseball culture vs MLB: Why emotion and passion rule the KBO
• Learning Korean language and culture while raising a family in Seoul
• The incredible fan support and celebrity status foreign players achieve in Korea
• Technical adjustments needed to succeed against Korean hitters who approach at-bats differently
• His dramatic MLB comeback with Cincinnati after being released by LG
• Playing for his father as AAA manager and getting called up mid-fireworks show
• Why Korean baseball fans are the most passionate in the world
• The "foreigners in a smaller bubble" experience and finding brotherhood overseas
• Bat-flipping culture and embracing the emotional side of Korean baseball
• How Korea "made him fall in love with baseball again" after becoming bitter in the minors

Casey also breaks down the differences between Korean and Japanese baseball, shares stories about becoming Korean celebrities, and explains why David MacKinnon's release from Samsung still doesn't make sense.

Whether you're curious about international baseball culture or want to understand what it takes to become a legend in a foreign country, this episode delivers authentic insights from someone who lived the dream.

Casey Kelly is a former MLB pitcher who became a Korean baseball legend with the LG Twins, earning the nickname "Jamsil Jesus" while helping end their 29-year championship drought in 2023.

🇰🇷 한국어: 에피소드 제목: 케이시 켈리가 어떻게 '잠실 예수'가 되어 29년 만의 우승 가뭄을 끝냈는가

에피소드 노트: LG 트윈스에서 5년 반을 보낸 케이시 켈리가 한국 야구의 로열티가 되어 '잠실 예수'라는 별명을 얻고 2023년 팀의 29년 만의 우승 가뭄을 끝내는 데 도움을 준 이야기를 들려줍니다.

주요 주제:

• 한국행을 망설였던 선수에서 5년 전설로의 변화
• 2023년 한국시리즈 우승과 LG의 29년 우승 가뭄 종료
• 한국 야구 문화 vs MLB의 차이점
• 서울에서 가족을 키우며 한국어와 문화 학습
• 외국인 선수들이 받는 엄청난 팬 지지와 유명인 대우
• 한국 타자들을 상대로 한 기술적 조정
• LG 방출 후 신시내티에서의 극적인 MLB 복귀

Season Number: 1 Episode Number: 11 키워드: 케이시 켈리, LG 트윈스, KBO, 잠실 예수, 한국시리즈, 우승, 한국 야구

In this episode of Pacific Swings, David and Jasper talk with Kaima Taira (平良海馬), the Seibu Lions ace closer who has dominated Japanese baseball with a legendary 1.88 career ERA across seven NPB seasons. For the first time ever, Kaima Taira speaks in English!

From his devastating slide step that makes elite hitters look foolish to his ambitious quest to throw 170 km/h (105 MPH), Taira opens up about his journey from a tiny 6-player junior high school team in Okinawa to becoming one of the most feared closers in Japanese baseball.

Key Topics Covered:

• The secret behind his slide step technique that baffles elite hitters
• Why his high school coach's advice changed his entire pitching approach forever
• How he prepares differently as a starter vs closer (spoiler: he doesn't prepare much as a closer)
• The mental game of closing tight games with bases loaded and 40,000 fans screaming
• His devastating pitch arsenal: 100+ MPH fastball, unhittable cutter, and why he switched from splitter to changeup
• Facing Japan's best hitters like Yanagita (SoftBank) and why the Fighters lineup is so dangerous
• His YouTube channel documenting the quest to throw 170 km/h and why that final 10% is nearly impossible
• Life as a new father while still throwing 100+ MPH (spoiler: no sleep, no video games)
• Growing up in Okinawa as a Chiba Lotte fan and watching spring training
• His off-season hobbies: fishing in beautiful Okinawan waters and terrible golf
• Why he'd be a YouTuber if he wasn't a professional baseball player

Whether you're fascinated by elite pitching mechanics or want to understand what separates NPB's best closers from the rest, this episode delivers rare insights from someone operating at the absolute pinnacle of Japanese baseball.

Kaima Taira is the ace pitcher for the Seibu Lions with a career 1.88 ERA across seven NPB seasons, known for his devastating slide step and 100+ MPH fastball while pursuing his goal of throwing 170 km/h.

🇯🇵 日本語: エピソードタイトル: 日本の100マイル・クローザーが打てないスライドステップの秘密を明かす

エピソードノート: 西武ライオンズのエース・クローザー平良海馬が、NPB通算防御率1.88という伝説的な成績を誇る投手として、沖縄の6人制高校チームから日本最恐のクローザーまでの軌跡を語ります。

主要トピック:

• 打者を翻弄するスライドステップの秘密
• 先発とクローザーの違い
• 柳田悠岐など日本最高打者との対戦
• 170km/h達成への挑戦
• 新米パパとしての生活

Season Number: 1 Episode Number: 10 キーワード: 平良海馬、西武ライオンズ、NPB、クローザー、スライドステップ、100マイル

🇰🇷 한국어: 에피소드 제목: 일본의 100마일 마무리 투수가 치기 어려운 슬라이드 스텝의 비밀을 공개

에피소드 노트: 세이부 라이온즈의 에이스 마무리 투수 타이라 카이마가 NPB 통산 평균자책점 1.88이라는 전설적 성적을 자랑하는 투수로서, 오키나와의 6인제 고교팀에서 일본 최강의 마무리 투수까지의 궤적을 들려줍니다.

주요 주제:

• 타자를 농락하는 슬라이드 스텝의 비밀
• 선발과 마무리의 차이점
• 야나기타 유키 등 일본 최고 타자들과의 대결
• 170km/h 달성을 향한 도전
• 신임 아빠로서의 생활

Season Number: 1 Episode Number: 10 키워드: 타이라 카이마, 세이부 라이온즈, NPB, 마무리 투수, 슬라이드 스텝, 100마일