Los Angeles, home of the Los Angeles Dodgers, is one of the most multiracial cities in the United States. There is a large community of white and black people, as well as Hispanics, which refers to Spanish-speaking Latin American immigrants. There are also many Asian immigrants, including a large Korean American community.
The Dodgers’ public relations department even has a separate staff dedicated to Hispanics. As a result of these urban influences, the Dodgers are not shy about attracting players from all over the world. Many Asian players have played for the Dodgers and have become fan favorites during their prime.
Since the 1990s, there are quite a few pitchers who have played for the Dodgers. He has also made great achievements. Chan Ho Park, who signed with the Dodgers while still a student at Hanyang University, crossed the Pacific Ocean to make his major league debut in 1994. He began his major league career in 1996 and won 84 games for the Dodgers until 2001, when he left for Texas as a free agent.
Park still holds the record for the most wins by an Asian in the major leagues (124), thanks to his successful career with the Dodgers. The Dodgers were one of the most popular teams in Korea thanks to Chan Ho Park.
The following year came the Hideo Nomo phenomenon, one of the most successful Asian-American players in Dodger history. Nomo burst onto the scene in 1995, going 13-6 with a 2.54 ERA in 28 games and 191⅓ innings pitched. He was named the National League Rookie of the Year and earned both All-Star and fourth-place Cy Young Award votes. Nomo peaked in 1996 with 16 wins and 1997 with 14 wins.
After watching Park and Nomo, younger players began to recognize the Dodgers. The Dodgers, realizing the talent of Asian players, also actively recruited from Japan, especially pitchers. Kazuhisa Ishii made his major league debut with the Dodgers in 2002, and Seo Jae-ng made a brief stint with the Dodgers in 2006. Takashi Saito also made his major league debut with the Dodgers in 2006.
Hideki Kuroda, a former Japanese league ace, also made his major league debut in a Dodgers uniform in 2008. Kuroda spent four years with the Dodgers, winning 41 games and establishing himself as a solid starter, before moving to the New York Yankees in 2012 for three more years in the big leagues. Kuroda won 79 games in seven years in the majors before returning to Japan.
Following Kuroda’s departure, the Dodgers acquired Ryu Hyun-jin, the best pitcher in the KBO, in a bidding war, and continued their Asian connections by signing Genta Maeda, one of the best pitchers in Nippon Professional Baseball, ahead of the 2016 season. Maeda split time between the starting rotation and the bullpen, compiling a 47-35 record with a 3.87 ERA for the Dodgers through 2019. Ryu Hyun-jin also played for the Dodgers through 2019, posting a 54-33 record with a 2.98 ERA. Both players have provided more than their fair share of value. 굿모닝토토 주소
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