“I feel like I have a star.”
Lim Ji-yeol, who put an end to Kiwoom Heroes’ losing streak with a come-from-behind Manlupo, gave his impressions.
Kiwoom won a thrilling 7-5 come-from-behind victory against the Lotte Giants in the 2023 Professional Baseball KBO League held at Gocheok Sky Dome in Guro-gu, Seoul on the 28th. With this, Kiwoom, who got out of the pit of four consecutive losses that he was sick of, belatedly reached the height of 20 wins (28 losses).
Lim Ji-yeol, who entered the game as a pinch hitter for Kim Jun-wan at the end of the 7th inning, was a brilliant game. He went on base by picking a walk in that at-bat, and entered the second at-bat with two outs loaded at the bottom of the 8th inning when Kiwoom trailed 3-5.
It was a situation where he could be nervous enough, but Lim Ji-yeol hit a 138km fastball with a low 4-ball from right-handed reliever Yoon Myeong-jun with an exciting swing as if there was nothing rough. In the end, he exploded the come-from-behind manrupo that slightly crossed the middle wall. It was a shot that instantly brought the mood to the side, and it was the moment when Lim Ji-yeol’s first grand home run in his personal career was completed. In terms of the KBO league, it is the 1024th overall, and if narrowed down to this season, it is the 9th full base.
Kiwoom, who seized the victory with Lim Ji-yeol’s home run, was able to face a thrilling come-from-behind victory without giving up any more runs.
After the game, Lim Ji-yeol said, “(As usual) I prepared the same and tried to do only what I could, so I think there was a good result.” Smiled.
He continued, “Rather than being meaningful because it was my first home run, the team was losing in a row, but I think it feels better because it is a home run that can cut it off.” I thought that the minimum fence would be right,” he said, looking back on the situation where he hit the home run.
Kiwoom’s dugout, which had fallen into a four-game losing streak before this game, has been quiet recently. Lim Ji-yeol’s home run immediately raised the atmosphere of the stagnant dugout.
Lim Ji-yeol said, “It was true that even if I kept trying to improve the atmosphere at Genie Dugout, it was true that it was down.” I wonder if I can rebound with today’s game,” he said confidently.
Lim Ji-yeol is a right-handed outfielder who debuted in the first team in the 2020 season after being nominated by the Heroes in 2014. He can also serve as a first baseman, and had a batting average of 0.255, 1 home run, and 15 RBIs in 60 professional regular league games until last season.
Lim Ji-yeol’s performance in fall baseball last season began with the first round of the semi-playoff against KT Wiz. In the bottom of the 8th inning, he fired a wedge two-run four, and in the bottom of the 7th inning of Game 3 of the playoff against the LG Twins, with the team trailing 3-4, he fired a come-from-behind two-run four against LG Pil Seung-jo Lee Jeong-yong. Then, in Game 6 of the Korean Series against SSG Landers, he even drew a preemptive two-run arch.
Lim Ji-yeol’s instinct to win continued this season. On the 12th, in the match against the Gocheok NC Dinos, he exploded 3 finishers and led Kiwoom to a 7-4 victory. It was also his first walk-off home run in his debut.
Afterwards, Lim Ji-yeol contributed greatly to Kiwoom’s victory by operating an exciting cannon when the team desperately needed it on this day.
When asked if he was concerned about the runners piled up before hitting the home run, Lim Ji-yeol said, “I didn’t care. It seems that (the effort) had good results according to the situation,” he laughed, saying, “(I) seem to have a star quality.”
Lim Ji-yeol’s father is Im Ju-taek, who was an outfielder for the Binggrae Eagles. What kind of conversation does Lim Ji-yeol usually exchange with his father?
Regarding this, Lim Ji-yeol said, “My father always doesn’t talk about baseball when I am bad, and he praises me for doing well when I do well. When you can’t do it, you don’t (talk) as well as possible. I think I am more grateful for those things,” he expressed his gratitude.스포츠토토
Calm down, Lim Ji-yeol is not a regular player in Kiwoom. However, with a clear strength of long hitting, he is always waiting for a sortie in the game.
“If I do well, I will help the team, so I always try to help the team. You have to work hard to do well. I am preparing while working hard”. Those were Lim Ji-yeol’s words.