It has been two years since leaving Korea, but pitcher Eric Fetty (32, St. Louis Cardinals) has not forgotten NC Dinos. He couldn’t forget. After seeing an NC uniform by chance in Washington, Fetty recalled Korea and achieved his first complete game shutout debut.

On the 10th (Korean time), Fetty started in the away game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., leading St. Louis to a 10-0 victory with a complete game shutout, allowing 6 hits, no walks, striking out 8 batters over 9 innings.

Fetty made an impressive complete game shutout debut against his 'home team' Washington, which drafted him 18th overall in the first round of the 2014 Draft and where he played for 6 years until 2022. He decorated this unforgettable moment at Nationals Park, the first time he returned after being non-tendered in 2022.

He started with a double by Washington's lead-off hitter C.J. Abrams in the first inning but struck out the next three batters. Fetty dominated the game without allowing another runner to reach second base by the 9th inning. In the 9th, although he allowed a hit to lead-off man James Wood, he induced a double play from Nathaniel Lowe and finished the game by catching a pop-up from Keibert Ruiz.

With a total of 109 pitches at a maximum speed of 95.2 mph (153.2 km) and an average of 93.4 mph (150.3 km), including 46 sinkers, 26 sliders, 23 cutters, and 14 changeups, he displayed high completeness in all four types of pitches, striking out three batters with his main weapon, the slider. With sharp control hitting the outside for right-handed batters and the inside for left-handed batters, he also recorded 2 looking strikeouts.

The moment the complete game shutout was confirmed, Fetty looked to his teammates and sent a Korean-style finger heart. He then hugged catcher Pedro Páez and joyfully lifted him up. Following the game, he was drenched from a water balloon shower poured by his teammates during an interview with 'Apple TV.'

Continuing the interview, Fetty said, 'Last year (April 29 against the Chicago White Sox), I had a chance for a complete game shutout in the 9th inning against the Tampa Bay Rays, but I missed it. This time, I stayed calm and focused to achieve a complete game shutout. After finishing the 8th inning, when I went into the dugout, the manager told me to finish the game. He believed in me that much, and I was able to achieve a complete game shutout. The defense was really good, and the batting lineup scored a lot. This victory was made by the team.' He expressed his gratitude to Oliver Marmol, St. Louis's manager, and his teammates.

Fetty then said, 'Before today's game, I saw someone wearing an NC Dinos uniform, my Korean team, near the bullpen. It was a really wonderful moment that reminded me of my journey to get here. I didn’t realize it before the game, but looking back now, I think it was a sign of the complete game shutout.' He expressed his gratitude to the fan wearing the NC uniform who visited Washington.

Fetty received an opportunity as a prospect in Washington but didn't perform as expected and aimed for a career transformation in Korea in 2023. After coming to Korea wearing the NC uniform, Fetty evolved into a new pitcher, honing his changeup along with the slider he developed at the pitching academy in Arizona over the winter. That year, he recorded 20 wins and 6 losses with a 2.00 ERA and 209 strikeouts over 30 games (180⅓ innings), achieving the first Triple Crown for a foreign pitcher and winning the MVP, and signed a two-year, $15 million contract with the Chicago White Sox, returning to the big leagues.

After being traded to St. Louis at the end of July last year, he became a success story of 'KBO reverse export' with a record of 31 games (177⅓ innings), 9 wins and 9 losses, a 3.30 ERA, and 154 strikeouts with two teams. This season, he has shown solid performances with 8 games (46⅔ innings), 3 wins and 3 losses, a 3.86 ERA, and 29 strikeouts. After coming back from Korea, he visited Washington with a significantly changed appearance, and seeing the NC uniform before the game, Fetty had a day filled with stories surrounding him.

Regarding achieving a complete game shutout in Washington, Fetty said, 'It feels strange. I imagined that I would one day get a complete game shutout here when I first reached the big leagues, but I never thought I would do it against this team.' He added, 'In Washington, there are still many people who have helped me greatly in my career, such as trainers and staff I like. So, in that sense, I feel a little peculiar, but I am really glad to achieve a complete game shutout here.'

In an interview with 'MLB.com,' Fetty said, 'I have no hard feelings toward Washington. They gave me every opportunity. They drafted me and allowed me to become a Major League player. I owe a lot to them in my career,' adding, 'But there's always a desire to show a better self after leaving the team.'

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