Doosan Bears’ Newest Acquisition, Ichiro Tamura, Linked to ‘KBO Miracle Myth’ Ahn Kwon-soo
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA – december 5, 2023 – Doosan Bears’ recently signed Asia Quarter player, Ichiro Tamura, expressed his eagerness to immerse himself in Korean culture and baseball, revealing a surprising connection to former Doosan Bears player Ahn Kwon-soo. Tamura, speaking to reporters, highlighted his long-held respect for the strength of Korean baseball, stating, “Ever since I was young, I felt it was Japan’s biggest rival. The powerful baseball was quite impressive.”
When asked if he knew any Korean baseball players, Tamura paused before disclosing, “My brother-in-law’s friend from elementary and middle school is Ahn Kwon-soo. I heard he played baseball at Doosan.”
Ahn Kwon-soo,drafted 99th overall in the 10th round of the 2020 second rookie draft,became a celebrated figure during his four seasons in the KBO. Despite being a late-round pick, he achieved a .278 batting average (163 hits in 586 at-bats) with 2 home runs, 13 doubles, 4 triples, 56 RBI, 112 runs, and 24 stolen bases (with 12 failed attempts). He also recorded 61 walks,88 strikeouts,a .324 slugging percentage,and a.346 on-base percentage. His success story, defying expectations as the 99th pick, has been dubbed a “miracle myth” by Korean baseball fans. He played for Doosan until the 2022 season before transferring to lotte in 2023,ultimately leaving Korea at the end of that year.
Tamura conveyed his positive initial experience with the Doosan association, noting the welcoming atmosphere at the Miyazaki camp in Japan. “It didn’t feel like I was here for the first time, but rather like I’d been playing baseball here all along,” he said. He also expressed excitement about joining a team he believes is already strong, adding with a smile, “I don’t think we will lose next year if we have the best 10th hitter. Should I say that I will inject more energy into such a strong team.I will try to contribute (to the team’s victory) and help the team move up. Please support me.”
Tamura also shared his admiration for current KBO players, specifically mentioning Kwak Bin and his powerful fastball. He revealed his shared interest in Japanese animation with Doosan pitchers,referencing the baseball cartoon Major from his childhood,as well as more recent series Kingdom and Demon Slayer.