Samsung Lions left-hander Choi Chae-heung won his first victory in six years. It is the result of overcoming difficult times well.
Choi Chae-heung started in the last face-off of the season against LG in the 2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League at Jamsil Stadium on the 28th and reported his first win of the season, leading his team to an 11-1 complete victory, striking out four, walking one and allowing one run (non-earned run) in six innings.
It's been two years. The last victory was against Changwon NC on October 30, 2021, before joining the military, with a relief victory (4 ⅓ scoreless innings). The starting win is against Sajik Lotte on September 21, 2021 (4 runs in 6 ⅓ innings). Choi Chae-heung, who was discharged from the military on June 12, made his 15th appearance this season and won his first victory of the season in his 14th start.
Before the game, head coach Park Jin-man said, "I threw steadily at Choi Chae-heung, but I didn't have time to concentrate at the Futures. This is because the game is spaced out," he said. "We need to supplement our physical strength from this year's final camp." You have to increase your fastball strength than before joining the army. Only then can we make use of the breaking ball, which is an advantage,"
Choi Chae-heung threw vigorously. In addition, the batters lightened Choi Chae-heung's shoulders from the beginning of the first inning. After Ryu Ji-hyuk hit a hit to the right field, Kim Hyun-joon hit a timely triple to the right field. Koo Ja-wook then hit a timely hit to the right field, leading Samsung.
In the first inning, he got off to a good start by sending Hong Chang-ki to center field, Park Hae-min to ground out to third base, and Kim Hyun-soo to left field. In the second inning, Lee Jae-won was dealt with a fly ball to the second baseman, and in the third inning, he made a three-and-out inning again. 토토사이트
Choi Chae-heung had a maximum fastball speed of 142 kilometers, but he overcame LG's batters by properly mixing 10 curves, 34 sliders, and 19 changeups. After the game, he said, "I was wondering if it was okay to be this difficult. I don't know how long it's been (to win)," he said. "It was actually really hard. I couldn't even call my family properly," he confessed.
"I don't think the air was good either," he continued. Even if the speed drops, there should be some strength, but there was no strength and the angle was not good. As a result, I lost my confidence," he reflected.
Coach Park, who criticized Choi Chae-heung before the game, said, "After the game, Choi Chae-heung finally won his first victory since being discharged from the military, so I congratulate him for now and look forward to continuing to show his solid performance like today until the end of the season."
Choi Chae-heung said, "I thought it was really hard back in 2021. I thought it couldn't be harder. But it was harder, so I decided, "I shouldn't think easily." I'm feeling it a lot this year," he said.
Kwon Oh-joon, the pitching coach, saw Choi Chae-heung's pitch and said, "It was good that the ball went in low today. Going in low, I was able to induce a swing and miss on the breaking ball, he said. "I ordered the player to keep finding a way to live on your own." "Thanks to my efforts, I was able to show good pitching today," he praised.
Choi Chae-heung said, "This year is also a tough season. I was disappointed in myself a lot. I feel so relieved this year. I should prepare well this winter and show a much better pitch next year," he vowed.