The defending Korean Series champions LG Twins said Saturday they have decided to cut ties with veteran pitcher Casey Kelly. Twins manager Youm Kyoung-youb told reporters Kelly's scheduled start against the Doosan Bears on Saturday will be his final one in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO). Kelly has been pitching for the Twins since 2019, making him the longest-tenured foreign player in the league this season and also the longest-serving foreign player in Twins franchise history. In this file photo from June 19, 2024, LG Twins starter Casey Kelly pitches against the Kia Tigers during a Korea Baseball Organization regular-season game at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field in the southwestern city of Gwangju. (Yonhap) This season, however, the American right-hander had struggled to match his past success. He carried a 5-8 record and a 4.51 ERA in 19 starts into Saturday's outing at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul. In five previous seasons, Kelly had a career 3.08 ERA. Youm said he had learned of the roster change Friday morning and initially didn't want to use Kelly in Saturday's game. However, he also wanted to give Kelly a proper sendoff, considering his contributions over the past half-dozen seasons. "I gave him that choice," Youm said. "He spoke with his family and decided he wanted to make one final start. And I think the guys are going to play hard for him today, because it would mean a lot to have him pick up the win in his final game." Kelly's farewell outing was spoiled by inclement weather, though. The game went into a rain delay with the Twins up 6-0 with two outs in the top of the third, and the umpiring crew called off the game after a 99-minute wait. Kelly pitched 2 2/3 shutout innings, giving up just two hits, but those numbers will not count. In the 2019-2024 period, Kelly sits atop the KBO pitching leaderboard in wins (73), starts (163), innings pitched (989 1/3) and strikeouts (753). In every season from 2019 to 2022, Kelly ranked in the top seven in ERA. Kelly was the winning pitcher whe n the Twins clinched their first championship in 29 years in Game 5 of the 2023 Korean Series against the KT Wiz. Kelly, 34, struggled out of the gate in 2024 and his job, along with that of fellow American starter Dietrich Enns, appeared to be in danger when Twins general manager Cha Myeong-seok traveled to the United States in May to scout a potential replacement. Kelly was 2-6 with a 5.60 ERA through May. LG Twins starter Casey Kelly celebrates after throwing a complete game shutout against the Samsung Lions in a Korea Baseball Organization regular-season game at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul on June 25, 2024, in this file photo provided by the Twins. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) But Kelly bounced back in June, pitching to a 2.91 ERA in five starts. The highlight of his season came on June 25, when he came within three outs of throwing the first perfect game in KBO history in a complete game shutout against the Samsung Lions. Kelly has been solid in July too, having allowed just one earned run in t wo of his three starts before Saturday. But in search of a more dominant, front-end type starter ahead of a stretch drive, the Twins decided to make a change. The Twins ranked in second place through Friday's action at 50-42-2 (wins-losses-ties), six games behind the Kia Tigers. Youm insisted, however, that the midseason change doesn't taint Kelly's legacy as a Twin. "We will remember what he has meant to this club over the past six seasons. As long as I am managing here, Kelly will be a part of our family," Youm said. "Once he retires, we could invite him to our spring training as an instructor." In this file photo from June 19, 2024, LG Twins starter Casey Kelly pitches against the Kia Tigers during a Korea Baseball Organization regular-season game at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field in the southwestern city of Gwangju. (Yonhap) Moments after Saturday's game was wiped out, the Twins announced that former major league pitcher Elieser Hernandez will replace Kelly in their rotation. Hernandez, a 29-year-old r ighty from Venezuela, will make US$440,000 for the rest of this season. Hernandez made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut with the Miami Marlins in 2018, and spent five seasons there. He split his 2024 season between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Milwaukee Brewers, going 0-1 with a 6.32 ERA in nine outings covering 15 2/3 innings. New LG Twins pitcher Elieser Hernandez poses in his new Korea Baseball Organization club's uniform in this photo provided by the Twins on July 20, 2024. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) Hernandez made six outings in Triple-A while with the Dodgers, including five starts, and had a 4-1 record with a 2.83 ERA across 28 2/3 innings. He had 34 strikeouts and eight walks. According to Baseball Savant website, Hernandez threw five different pitches in MLB this year: four-seam fastball, cutter, changeup, sinker and slider. He averaged 91.8 miles per hour with his four-seamers. The Twins said they liked Hernandez's command with his fastball and breaking balls, and they expect him to serve as the bona fide No. 1 starter even though he's joining them midseason. The Twins plan to ask the KBO to place Kelly on the waivers Sunday. Source: Yonhap News Agency