Former NC Scruggs “Once you receive chee ...

Former NC Scruggs “Once you receive cheers from Korean fans, you will never forget it”

Mar 20, 2024

Visited Korea for the first time in 6 years as a commentator for the ‘Seoul Series’

Xavier Scruggs, who visited Korea for the first time in 6 years to commentate on the Seoul Series, enjoys ‘Tteokbokki’.

On the 18th, ahead of the practice game between the Korean national team 'Team Korea' and the LA Dodgers of the American Major League Baseball (MLB). At Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, a face familiar to Korean baseball fans wandered around the field and observed the players' training. It was Xavier Scruggs (37), who played for NC, a Korean professional baseball team, in 2017 and 2018. Scruggs visited Korea for the first time in six years as a member of the MLB highlight broadcast panel for the 'Seoul Series', the two-game series opening the 2024 season between San Diego and LA Dodgers at the same location on the 20th and 21st.

In 2020, when the novel coronavirus infection (Corona 19) was prevalent, MLB suspended league operations. Sports channel ESPN broadcasted Korean professional baseball instead of MLB. From this point on, Crux began his second life as a commentator and is now a professional baseball commentator for MLB and ESPN.

Scruggs said, “It’s been 6 years since I came to Korea, but now that I’m back, I’m so used to it that I wonder when I left. The passion of Korean fans is already famous in the United States. For any player who has ever played in Korea, such cheers from fans will remain an unforgettable experience. “Also, as a player who previously played in Korea, it was a really cool experience to see MLB’s San Diego and LA Dodgers players playing against the Korean national team with the support of Korean fans.”

Scruggs said, “Through this Seoul Series, Korean fans were the first to see MLB regular season games than American fans. “It’s really great,” he said, adding, “It will be a great opportunity for big leaguers to feel the passion and energy of Korean baseball fans on the field.”

Scruggs, who left Korea at the end of the 2018 season, played in the Mexican League for one more season, but later ended his career due to injury. Scruggs said, “I started broadcasting because I thought it would be fun. At the time, he thought broadcasting was a thing of the distant future, but while commentating, he realized, 'I really enjoy talking about baseball.' “The more I explained, the more fun I had,” he said. “I’m still enjoying it.”

Among the Team Korea players on this day was NC catcher Kim Hyeong-jun (25), with whom Scruggs worked together during his NC days. Scruggs said, “There were some players I worked with when I played in Korea, so I said hello.” Kiwoom Kim Hye-seong and KT Kang Baek-ho, who came to the ground to practice batting ahead of the game, were surprised and expressed joy when they recognized Scruggs.

The status of Asian baseball, including Korea, in the MLB has changed significantly from when Scruggs played in Korea six years ago. San Diego, where Kim Ha-seong (29) plays, has four Asian players: Yu Darvish (37), Yuki Matsui (29), and Ko Woo-seok (26). Previously, the most Asian players played in one season for the San Diego club were two. Darvish and Ha-seong Kim played together from the 2021 to 2023 seasons. The last time two Asian players played together was in 2006, when Park Chan-ho, a special advisor to San Diego, and current Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, a Japanese American, played together. Scruggs is also feeling the changed atmosphere. Scruggs said, “There are more players from different nationalities playing in MLB. “Once you see it often, you become more interested in it and become attached to it,” he said. “When players from different cultures play together, they better understand and accept each other’s different environments and backgrounds.” “What’s especially cool is that everyone gets along well, regardless of where they come from.” Scruggs cited the example of Eric Peddie, who played in NC last season and was ‘re-exported’ to MLB, saying, “As the importance of Korean baseball grows, players have more options. Even if you can't go to MLB right away, an environment has been created where you can play in Korea and get a chance to return. Didn’t Mel Rojas Jr. also return to KT this time? “It has created an environment where players can play in various leagues more flexibly,” he commented. Scruggs said, “I also keep in touch with (foreign) players who played in Korea. Today, I had the opportunity to meet and talk with Casey Kelly (35, LG), who was here during the daytime game (currently KBO's longest-serving foreign player). “He decided to have dinner with me tonight,” he said with a laugh.

Scruggs visited Korea this time with his entire family, including his wife and two children. After finishing the Seoul Series, Scruggs will move to Changwon-si, Gyeongsangnam-do (NC's hometown) and throw out the first pitch in NC's opening game. Scruggs said, “I decided to stay in Changwon for three more days and then return. I am so excited to go to the newly built baseball stadium for the first time. “I heard that there was a Starbucks at the baseball stadium, so I decided to hold an autograph session there,” he said. “I hope many fans will come to the baseball stadium.” 스포츠토토맨

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