Fernando Rodney, the closer for the Seattle Mariners on a visit to South Korea, preached the value of hard work to be successful in baseball at a clinic for Little League players on Tuesday, saying that there is no shortcut to success.

“You have to practice a lot, and it’s the only way you can get better,” the 37-year-old major league hurler told a throng of teenage players gathered at Songpa Little League Baseball Stadium in southeastern Seoul.

“Just keep playing baseball. You never know who’s going to be the next major league player from Korea.”

Rodney came to South Korea last weekend, a trip scheduled after the players on South Korea’s Little League World Series championship team last year mimicked Rodney’s signature bow-and-arrow celebration in the final.

Though he never did get to meet members of the 2014 squad ― they were off to training with their respective school teams ― Rodney gave a few tips to pitchers who will represent South Korea at this year’s Little League World Series.

Rodney said watching the celebration on television “made me so proud.”

After working with some young players, Rodney said he was “amazed” with their skill levels.

“I had fun trying to explain to kids how to throw a fastball and changeup,” he said.

“They have a lot of talent. You’ve got to give them the opportunity to keep improving.”

At 37, Rodney hasn’t slowed down. He led the majors with 48 saves in 2014 and has collected 133 saves since 2012. In his 12-year big league career for four teams, Rodney has earned 220 saves. (Yonhap)