The pitching battles played by the "Young Guns" are always exciting.
The fourth game of the LG Twins and the Samsung Lions Lions in Jamsil-dong on the last two days attracted attention with the first and second year Cole Hamels. It was a return match between rookie LG Lee Min-ho (19) and second-year Samsung Lions Won Tae-in (20) this year; both pitchers threw seven innings to give them a luxury pitching game. It was a pity that 'I would have liked to have a full audience'. Lee Min-ho won when he met in Daegu on the 21st of last month, and Won Tae-in, who had a scoreless run, won the game.
Young pitchers have an invisible rivalry: Won Tae-in said after Kyonggi, "Minho threw really well, it was bad in the first inning, but I was stimulated by dragging it to the seventh inning. I did not want to lose today, "he said." I want to stop now, "he said when asked if he was waiting for a third confrontation. Of course, this competitive stress is a great nourishment for the young people to grow.
In 2020, the KBO League is making a rich story by announcing the birth of talented young people. Managers and club officials are saying, "It is a lumber to lead our team for more than 10 years." The KBO mound, which waited for a young Ace to succeed Ryu Hyun-jin, Kim Kwang-hyun, and Yang Hyun-jong, is full of vitality with their appearance. In the early 20s, native starters are making a competitive composition with foreign pitchers in each sector.
The front runner is NC Dynos left-hander Koo Chang-mo (23). Koo Chang-mo is in the lead of three major divisions with four wins in 5Kyonggi, an Earned run average of 0.51, and 38 strikeouts. He has grown into a left-handed Ace representing KBO, and he has put the necessary conditions on Cole Hamels, including a fast ball of 150km, stable control, and bold Kyonggi operation. Koo Chang-mo is actually a prepared Ace who has steadily accumulated selection classes since his debut in Group 1 in 2016.
Won Tae-in is the one who emerged as a competitor of Koo Chang-mo. He has recently achieved a 3Kyonggi series of 'Quality Start +' with four fastballs, sliders, changeups, and curves in the late 140km range. He marked the Earned run average 2.45 and jumped to third plAce in this category. Won Tae-in joined last year after receiving his first term and has already earned a starting experience at 20Kyonggi, a position he has grown to contend for the team's Ace spot in two years of joining. Won Tae-in said, "It is because of the active game that we can throw the innings long. Last year, I did not have a decision while playing a pitch, but this year I have been throwing confidently without avoiding the count or the ball count from the beginning. "
Won Tae-in's team senior, left-hander Choi Chae-heung, 25, is also in the running, with 3-1 in 5Kyonggi and 3.21 in Earned run average this season. After joining the team after receiving his first term in 2018, he started in 15Kyonggi last year and has been caught up in the game. 140km in the early and mid-term, and all kinds of fastballs, change-ups, sliders, and curves are freely used according to the thorough corner work. On the 31st of last month, NC was the first to lose the season with nine hits and seven runs in four innings, but it would have been a drug.
Seo Joon-won (20) also has a stable position in the rotation with a 2-1 loss and an Earned run average 4.23 in 5Kyonggi as the side arm of the Lotte Giants' second year. With fastballs up to 150 kilometers, the team has recently recorded 2Kyonggi consecutive quality starts; the Kia Tigers Lee Min Woo (27) is also a notable lumber. Lee Min Woo, who joined Kyungsung University in 2015 as the first name after graduating from Kyungsung University, played mainly bullpen pitcher until last year and won the first plAce this year. 5 in Kyonggi with three wins, and Earned run average 3.23 in the mark.
Among the rookies who joined this year, KT Wiz So-Jun (19) is attracting attention besides Lee Min-ho. Although So-Jun has recently gained a run-off rate, Lee Kang-cheol's evaluation is very positive. A variety of ball combinations that combine calm personality, four-shim and two-shim are considered strengths.