Moon Dong-joo (20, Hanwha), the ‘Prince of Daejeon’, showed a mighty battle with a distance of up to 157 km in the first appearance of the demonstration game. He was largely flawless except for allowing a home run and a walk to prospective major leaguer Lee Jung-hoo (Kiwoom).
Moon Dong-ju made a start in an exhibition game against Kiwoom in the 2023 KBO League held at Daejeon Hanwha Life Insurance Eagles Park on the 18th, and blocked it with 4 hits (1 home run), 2 walks, 4 strikeouts and 1 run in 3 innings. The only run scored was a solo home run by Lee Jung-hoo in the first inning. The process to enter the starting rotation is proceeding smoothly. 안전놀이터
Mun Dong-joo, who made two actual appearances as a starting pitcher in spring camp practice matches in Arizona, USA and Okinawa, Japan, showed his first demonstration game in front of Daejeon home fans on the weekend. He planned to pitch 3 or 4 innings and got on the mound, and faced up to the first batter in the 4th inning.
In the first inning, Moon Dong-ju, who grounded Kim Hye-seong as center fielder and Lim Ji-yeol as shortstop, hit a solo home run with Lee Jung-hoo and gave up the first run. Lee Jung-hoo hit the high ball in the middle of the 152 km he threw to catch a strike in the three-ball. Distance 115m solo gun.
However, he struck out with three straight fastballs to Edison Russell, the next hitter. In the second inning, the pitching pattern was changed. He threw 1 to 4 consecutive breaking pitches to lead hitter Park Joo-hong, then struck out on a swing with a 151km high fastball on the 5th pitch.
Lee Hyung-jong gave a left-handed hit and Song Seong-moon a straight walk, and Lee Ji-young hit a left-handed hit in the 1st and 2nd bases, but left fielder Noh Soo-gwang prevented a run with an accurate home care and received defensive help. In the continued 2nd 1st and 2nd bases, Lee Yong-gyu finished the inning with a looking strikeout with a full 153km fastball.
In the 3rd inning, Kim Hye-seong caught a left field foul fly and Lim Ji-yeol caught a shortstop ground ball, and Lee Jung-hoo allowed a walk after a full count match. Although he lost two consecutive at-bats to Lee Jung-hoo, he struck out the next batter, Russell, and ended the inning. After counting with the outside curve and slider, he took away the swing with a 153km fastball that was full to the body.
Moon Dong-ju, who also came up in the 4th inning, was replaced after getting a right-handed hit by leader Park Joo-hong. He got a runner on base every inning, but showed off his guurir, striking out four in three innings. 30 strikes and 26 balls for a total of 56 pitches. He threw a mix of curves (14), sliders (7), and changeups (2) centered on fastballs (33) with a maximum of 157 km and an average of 153 km. The changeup was also fast enough to reach a maximum speed of 145 km.
However, after the game, Moon Dong-ju gave himself a rough rating of ’20 points’. He said, “It was a game that I threw in two weeks, so I was strong, but I went in too much. He didn’t like it overall. There were too many balls, and the count was unfavorable in the beginning.” I think it will get better as we play.”
For Hanwha, Felix Pena, Birch Smith, and Kim Min-woo are all confirmed. Moon Dong-ju, Jang Min-jae, Nam Ji-min, and Han Seung-joo are competing for the remaining two spots. Coach Subero said, “We start the season with a five-man starting rotation. We will make a decision after watching the pitchers’ physical condition.” At the current pace, Moon Dong-ju is likely to enter the opening rotation.
I wonder if coach Subero, who has adhered to the principle of using a domestic pitcher as the starter for the opening game, will take out the card of Moon Dong-ju.