Samsung Lions pitcher Yang Chang-seop visits Everland's zoo conservation center with his family on Sunday, where he met a lion cub born at the park for the first time in eight years. [Everland]
Samsung Lions pitcher Yang Chang-seop visits Everland's zoo conservation center with his family on Sunday, where he met a lion cub born at the park for the first time in eight years. [Everland]

Everland said Tuesday that a lion cub born at the park for the first time in eight years had a special visitor: Yang Chang-seop, the Samsung Lions pitcher with the most wins in the first half of the season.

Yang visited Everland's zoo conservation center on Sunday, taking advantage of a break following his appearance in the All-Star Game. He has gone 7-0 this season, holding the top winning percentage in the KBO League.

During the visit, Yang gave the cub the name "Raon" — the same name as the youngest character in the Samsung Lions' mascot family, the "Bleo Family."

The birth marked the first time a lion cub had been born at Everland's zoo since 2018. Because the mother was unable to care for her newborn, the park's zookeepers stepped in to hand-raise the cub, bottle-feeding it around the clock in her place. The cub has been growing up healthy as a result.

"I hope Raon grows up strong and one day becomes the true king of the safari, ruling over Everland's safari zone," Yang said. "Drawing on the cub's fierce spirit, I will do my best to help the Lions charge forward toward the KBO League championship this year."

An Everland official said the park hopes Raon, which has overcome a difficult start and is growing up strong, will be a source of hope for Samsung Lions players and fans. The park plans to monitor the cub's condition carefully and, if all goes well, have Raon meet visitors in person as early as next month.


jeongwan@heraldcorp.com