‘Walnet, first pitch hit, surprise bunt hit’ The weight of the first team mound in the opening game was heavier than expected for a rookie pitcher to handle.
Suwon KT Wiz Park on the 1st, where the professional baseball opening match between KT Wiz and LG Twins was held. In the bottom of the 6th inning, trailing 4-1, 1 out, 2nd and 3rd base. In order to prevent further runs, LG coach Yeom Kyung-yeop lowered Kelly, the starting pitcher who recorded 85 pitches, and put rookie Park Myeong-geun on the mound. 안전놀이터
Park Myung-geun, who was nominated by the LG Twins with the 27th overall pick in the 3rd round of the 2023 rookie draft, was the only rookie player to build his body with his seniors in the first team spring camp. Although he is 174 cm and 75 kg pitcher, he is not very tall, but he was evaluated as one of the best pitchers in the league with a fastball that reached 150 km and a high-speed slider during his high school days.
Park Myung-geun’s greatest strength is his fast quick motion, which lasts less than one second. Compared to overhand pitchers, sidearm pitchers often have slower quick motions, allowing runners to steal bases more often. The representative player is Jung Woo-young (sidearm). Last season, he allowed 29 stolen bases, and his stolen base rate was a whopping 97%. Although he has a powerful pitch, his slow quick motion is Jung Woo-young’s weakness.
Park Myung-geun, who pitched in three demonstration games and recorded an ERA of 2.16 in 8.1 innings and 7 hits, 1 walk, and 6 strikeouts while facing 33 batters, received a passing score and was named to the opening game entry.
Park Myeong-geun, who was on the mound for the opening game with coach Yeom Gyeong-yeop’s trust. In a situation where even a veteran bullpen pitcher had no choice but to feel pressure, he gave KT Kim Min-hyuk a straight walk. When the rookie pitcher faltered, catcher Park Dong-won visited the mound ahead of the game with bases loaded and tapped Park Myung-geun on the shoulder to instill confidence.
In the ensuing game, KT manager Lee Kang-cheol took out a pinch hitter Kim Jun-tae card. It was the moment when the joys and sorrows of Kim Joon-tae, who connected the first 144km fastball with a timely hit, and Park Myung-geun, who allowed a timely hit after a walk, were crossed. In the situation of 1st, 1st and 3rd base, KT Kim Sang-soo’s surprise bunt came out, and Park Myeong-geun calmly caught the ball and tossed it to 1st base. At this time, Seo Kun-chang and Song Chan-eui, who entered first base cover late, could not catch runner Kim Sang-soo.
As the score gap widened to 7-1, pitching coach Kim Kyung-tae took the ball and climbed the mound. Park Myung-geun’s expression was full of regret as he came down from the mound without getting a single out count in his first team appearance.
Park Myung-geun, who threw the ball for the first time in front of a full crowd, recorded 8 pitches and a maximum speed of 144 km that day. He used quick quick motion, which is his strength, and had a good attitude to fight the batters somehow, but he must have felt that his first-team mound was 180 degrees different from the demonstration game.
LG’s rookie pitcher Park Myeong-geun, who will grow one step further amidst the pain of failure,’s baseball begins now.