Even if it’s a little difficult, I endure well.”
It was different from the evaluation of KIA Tigers coach Kim Jong-guk, who said he was average. It was too difficult for Lee Eui-ri (21), a “national pitcher,” to throw a strike.
Eui-ri Lee started in the home game of the 2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League against Doosan Bears held at KIA-Champions Field in Gwangju on the 8th, and was knocked out after less than 4 innings.
He caught 5 strikeouts by the 3rd inning and pitched a scoreless pitch, even over the bases loaded crisis.
On this day, his fastball top speed reached 150 km/h. It was not a question of redemption. From the beginning of his debut, many walks were Lee Eui-ri’s chronic disease. However, at the beginning of this season, that concern has only grown.
I was anxious from the 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC). Lee Eui-ri, who took the mound against Korea and Japan in the first round, could hardly put the ball into the strike zone. Even though he took the mound with an already wide gap, he faced 4 batters, got only one out count, and gave up 3 walks.
In the demonstration game, he appeared on the mound twice and gave up only 4 walks in 7⅓ innings and seemed to be getting zero points, but it was different once the season started. He allowed 6 walks in 5 innings against SSG Landers on the 2nd. He took the victory by recording a quality start (more than 6 innings and less than 3 runs), but he himself cited walks as a problem.
Before the game, coach Kim Jong-guk said, “Even if it’s a little difficult, I’ll hold on well. I hope I can overcome it well only when there is a crisis in the early stages.”
He struck out 4 out of 6 outs in the 1st and 2nd innings. He didn’t even walk. However, the batting order shook sharply from the third inning. In the first company, he gave up three consecutive walks to Jeong Su-bin, Yoo-chan Lee, and Heo Kyung-min. Out of 16 pitches against them, there were only 4 strikes, including fouls.
Just like the nickname ‘pervert with bases full’, Kang Seung-ho induced a ground ball from third baseman to prevent the runner from third base from scoring, and struck out Kim Jae-hwan to overcome the crisis, but in the end, he did not make it past the fourth inning.
Starting with the first batter Yang Eui-ji, Yang Seok-hwan was sent on a walk. All three pitches he threw to Song Seung-hwan, who was registered for the first team entry that day, became balls.
The KIA bench has moved. Lee Eui-ri’s mission ended here. It was almost fortunate that Lim Ki-young, who took the mound from 1st and 2nd base safely, traded 3 out counts for 1 run.
Lee Eui-ri’s pitching, which allowed 11 walks in 8 innings in 2 games, was disappointing. On this day, out of 77 pitches, 38 pitches were almost half.메이저놀이터 As director Kim Jong-guk said, it is difficult to erase the anxiety easily to be optimistic that he will get better with time.
After the game, coach Kim Jong-guk pointed out, “Lee Eui-ri, who was a starting pitcher, was not able to control himself well and became a steel plate early.” The pitchers who came up later also did their part.” He said, “Even though Choi Hyung-woo’s come-from-behind two-run home run and pinch hitter Ko Jong-wook’s performance in the bottom of the 9th inning gave him a thrilling victory, coach Kim Jong-guk was left with a great sense of loss of pitch in the second start. .