Jack Cushing enjoys brief KBO stint with Hanwha Eagles

By Yoo Jee-ho SEOUL, May 14 (Yonhap) -- Before he signed with the Hanwha Eagles as a temporary injury replacement in early April, right-hander Jack Cushing admittedly knew little about the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO). Although he had some friends who had previously played in the South Korean league or are currently here, Cushing wanted to see for himself how he would fit into the new league. "It's been awesome. I've just really enjoyed it," Cushing told Yonhap News Agency on Tuesday before the Eagles played the Kiwoom Heroes at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul. "It's just another experience playing the game of baseball. He won't get to enjoy his time with the Eagles beyond this week, though. Cushing only signed for six weeks to fill in for injured pitcher Owen White -- the KBO has been allowing these short-term deals for injured foreign players since 2024 -- and his deal will expire Friday. White, who suffered a hamstring injury in his KBO debut March 31, is eligible to return Saturday and is expected to start either Saturday or Sunday. Cushing said he had tried not to worry too much about the uncertainty accompanying his type of contract. "Every day, I'm going out there, throwing my game, competing, but I'm not really putting any attention toward that time expiring," he said. "I'm just going to go out there and compete for the team and just do my job. And whenever that time comes that it ends, it ends. Then move on to whatever lies next." Cushing, 29, said he wasn't sure what will come after this weekend and added he will wait and see if any other KBO team wants to sign him. He has reached as high as Triple-A in the U.S. minors but has not yet pitched in the majors. Cushing's ability to start and also come in relief can come in handy for any KBO team in need of pitching help. Cushing made a start in his KBO debut on April 12 but then pitched the next 13 games out of the bullpen. With the incumbent closer Kim Seo-hyeon struggling mightily, Cushing has been asked to close out games too. He has responded with three saves in four opportunities. Cushing has a 1-2 record with three saves in 14 outings through Wednesday, along with a 4.82 ERA in 18 2/3 innings. He has struck out 25 batters while holding the opponents to a .233 batting average. His ERA is inflated by a couple of rough outings -- his first start on April 12, when he allowed three runs in three innings against the Kia Tigers, and a relief outing on May 3 against the Samsung Lions, who scored four runs off him in just two innings. Take away those two outings, and Cushing has surrendered just three earned runs in 13 1/3 frames for a 2.03 ERA. Cushing said shifting from the rotation to the bullpen on the fly was "really not that big of a deal to me" because he has been doing it throughout his career. "Going to the bullpen, it's a little bit different routine warming up, but it was a fairly easy adjustment for me," he added. Cushing said he enjoyed getting his first strikeout, first win and first save in the KBO, but nothing beats the joy of building camaraderie with his new teammates. "The relationships, getting to hang out with the guys every day," Cushing began. "A lot of them haven't been to America, and I haven't been over here. So it's different cultures colliding, but we're still able to enjoy each other's presence and create friendships. The language barrier obviously is a little bit harder, but I honestly think that that is going to be resonating with me in the future. "Everybody has been so positive, and everybody has accepted me for who I am," Cushing added. "I think that's one of the coolest things I'll probably take away from this whole experience -- just how supportive everybody is."