The rookie on the mound, Jeong Hyun-soo (23) of the Lotte Giants, who had earned the praise of legends with his magical curveball on “Strongest Baseball,” was greeted with a round of applause.
“He pitched really well in the second team,” said club officials. Manager Kim Tae-hyung personally visited the Gimhae second team practice field to check on Jeong’s performance.
He was excluded from the first team spring training. The only other rookie to accompany him to the camp was Jeon Mir, who the manager deemed “worthy of being put into the first team right away.”
Jeong made significant progress through winter training and spring training. His pitching form has stabilized and he has learned to throw his own pitches. He’s been judged to be worthy of competing with the likes of Jin Hae-soo and Lim Jun-sub for the first-team left-handed bullpen spot.
On July 16-17, he pitched two consecutive days in an exhibition game against the Hanwha Eagles. On the first day, he struggled, allowing two runs on two hits and one walk in ⅓ inning.
However, on the second day, he pitched well with one inning of one-hit ball and no runs.
“I didn’t think it was natural for me to start in the second team, but I prepared really well last winter. I can confidently say that I worked harder than anyone else. I wanted to show the results on the first team mound, but it didn’t go well on the first day. I felt inadequate,” he lamented.
“I was excited to be in the first team. I should have calmed down and focused on the game, but I was nervous. Regardless of the result, I’m upset that I didn’t throw my ball. 안전놀이터 추천 I think I was too impatient to ‘do’ something. I should have thrown it more confidently…but then I got a little overwhelmed.”
Jung Hyun-soo is a native of Busan who graduated from Daeyeoncho, Busan Jungbu, and Busan High School. He said, “When I greeted my seniors and told them that I had made it to the first team, I realized, ‘Oh, it’s just before the opening. It was a very different feeling to stand as a player at Sajik Stadium, where I have been a Lotte fan since I was a child.”
Kim Won-joong, the “pitching coach,” approached him after his first day’s poor performance.
“You’re nervous!” Kim Won-joong said, and it made him feel better. “In the end, I have to overcome it. I won’t suffer such a failure in the future.” The results showed on the second day.
Lotte drew more than 10,000 fans to their home exhibition game on the weekend, and the fans’ enthusiasm was already as high as it was during the regular season. Jeong faced the cheers from the highest part of the stadium.
“I’m really grateful for the fans. I’ll try to pitch as well as I can. In the regular season, I will be a pitcher who is cheered by everyone, including Choiwoong Baseball and Lotte fans.”