Gocheok Dome sold out for the first time on Children’s Day. On a day like this, the home team Kiwoom Heroes lost and left a sense of regret. There is a harvest. Found 5 starters.
Kiwoom lost 1-3 in the first leg of the weekend’s three-game series and Children’s Day match-up against SSG Landers in the 2023 KBO League held at Gocheok Sky Dome (Gocheok Dome) in Seoul on the 5th. Against starting pitcher Oh Won-seok, he only allowed 5 hits and 1 run in 7 innings. Noh Kyung-eun and Seo Jin-yong could not attack. Lee Jung-hoo set a new personal career record of 1,100 hits with the smallest game ever (824 games) and the youngest (24 years, 8 months, 15 days), but the light faded.
Even in defeat, there are players who shine. It is Jung Chan-heon, who started as a starting pitcher. He gave up only one run on two hits and three strikeouts in six innings. After two outs in the top of the fourth inning, Choi Jeong and Guillermo Heredia hit consecutive hits and gave up one point, the only tee.
The flashy variation of a two-seam fastball with a speed of 135-139 km/h and a forkball, curve, and slider properly mixed to compete stood out. He shook his hitting point so much that he picked up an out count of 9 out of 19 batters on ground balls.
After many twists and turns, Jung Chan-heon stood on the first team mound again. He is a veteran who debuted with the LG Twins in 2008 and played 389 games until last year, but had a hard time finding a destination last winter when he obtained FA (free agent) qualifications. He even joined an independent league baseball team (Seongnam Magpies) to maintain his real-life sense.
Jeong Chan-heon signed a dramatic free agent contract with Kiwoom just before the opening and stayed. The club gave more generous value (period of 2 years, total of 860 million won) than the treatment the player wanted. Jeong Chan-heon, who signed the contract, said, “I couldn’t even go to the spring camp and while exercising alone, I thought, ‘I really love baseball.’ He said, “It was a time that gave me an opportunity to make my mind stronger.”
Jeong Chan-heon prepared for his return to the first team by building his body in the rehabilitation group. For Kiwoom, the 1st to 4th selections leading to An Woojin, Eric Yokishi, Ariel Furado, and Choi Wontae were relatively solid, but the 5th selection was a hole. Jang Jae-young, who got a chance to play in the opening rotation, was sluggish because he could not control his weakness, and was sent to the second team.
Jeong Chan-heon got his first appearance in the 2023 season against the Lotte Giants on April 29th. Getting into the 5th starting position. It was a planned sequence.
However, his first appearance was delayed due 스포츠토토 to rain. In the game on the 30th, Ace Ahn Woo-jin kept the pitching interval.;
Another five days passed. After a long wait, the mound for the first team was re-established. It was Children’s Day. Jeong Chan-heon overpowered the opponent’s lineup with a brilliant number fight that came from his rich experience. He was not pushed back by SSG starter Oh Won-seok.
Kiwoom collapsed with 4th starter Choi Won-tae giving up 10 runs in the SSG match the day before (4th). If there are vacancies up to the 5 starters, it will be difficult in the ranking competition. Jeong Chan-heon’s good fight was sweet rain. Attention is focusing on whether Jung Chan-heon, who went through the ordeal and got another chance, will be of help to the Kiwoom selection team.