“He’s a good pitcher, even though he’s a 3rd starter, it’s no different than a 1st starter for us.”
National pitcher Kwak Bin (24) proved the trust of Doosan Bears manager Lee Seung-yeop (47) with results. He gave the command tower a valuable victory.
Kwak Bin started in the 2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League away game against the KIA Tigers at KIA-Champions Field in Gwangju on the 9th, and pitched 3 hits, 3 walks, 7 strikeouts and 2 runs in 5 innings. He enjoyed the thrill of his first win of the season as the bullpen kept a one-point lead.토토사이트
Doosan’s ‘sick finger’ Kwak Bin, who joined in 2018 and had to blow through two seasons due to injury, showed potential in 2021 and grew into a native ace with an ERA of 3.78 with 8 wins and 9 losses in 27 games last year. In particular, since August, he threw well with 5 wins (3 losses) and an ERA of 2.98 in 10 games, showing off his improved skills. As a result, he wore the Taegeuk mark and participated in the 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC).
That momentum continues into the season. On the 4th, he made his first appearance against the NC Dinos and pitched 7 innings, 2 hits, 1 walk, and 10 strikeouts. He didn’t win because he couldn’t get support for scoring from the other line, but it was an impressive pitch.
He continued his activity to this day. Before the game, coach Lee Seung-yeop said, “I’m going to throw after 4 days off, but I think I’ll have them throw around 100 pitches.” He showed confidence, saying, “He is a good pitcher that is no different than a first starter for him.”
Kwak Bin, who took the lead with Yang Seok-hwan’s solo home run in the top of the first inning, began happily by striking out the first hitter, Park Chan-ho, on a swing with his signature cascade-like falling curve. He got a walk from Lee Chang-jin and a left-handed hit from Socrates Brito, but escaped the crisis by inducing a double hit to Choi Hyung-woo.
He struck out three more in the second and third innings, recording consecutive three-way strikes, and finished the inning without being shaken even after being hit by the lead batter in the fourth inning. At the beginning of the game, he struck out with a curveball, slider and changeup, but from the 4th inning, he switched to a fast ball of 151km per hour as his main weapon and attacked the KIA hitters.
The 5th episode left me with regret. After striking out Byun Woo-hyeok, he was hit with a double by Kim Ho-ryeong and even Joo Hyo-sang walked out. After striking out Kim Kyu-seong again, he allowed Park Chan-ho to walk again. Crisis with the bases loaded with two companies. Lee Chang-jin, who had a good sense of hitting, was induced to ground a ball to the third baseman, but due to a mistake by Heo Gyeong-min, two runners went home. He was not recorded with an earned run, but the winning pitcher requirement was blown. After catching Socrates Brito and completing the 5th inning, Gwak Bin prepared for the 6th inning even though the number of pitches had already reached 95.
Kwak Bin, whom I met after the game, said, “I said I threw because the balance was good in the 5th inning and the ball speed was good.” Manager Lee Seung-yeop gave an ok sign, and Kwak-bin went back to the mound in the 6th inning. Fortunately, it was after Kang Seung-ho’s two RBIs and a timely hit in the bottom of the 5th inning succeeded in reversing the game.
The first hitter, Choi Hyeong-woo, was sent out with a hit and even recorded a wild throw, but luck followed. Hyeong-Woo Choi, who had been digging past second base to third base, was out. After that, he gave up a walk and the number of pitches reached 103, so he eventually passed the ball to Park Chi-guk.
Starting with Park Chi-guk, Pil Seung-jo, who led Choi Ji-kang, Jeong Cheol-won, and Hong Geon-hee, kept a one-point lead. In the end, the first victory of the season was completed.
Coach Lee Seung-yeop praised after the game, “Kwak Bin led the 5th inning well with very good pitching.
It was a victory that was won with difficulty, such as going through a crisis with no bases loaded. Nevertheless, Kwak Bin said, “It’s good to win, but the first thing the team wins is the first thing to do. Trust is first. Even if I lose my victory, it’s okay if only the team wins.” It gave me strength. The tempo was a bit long, but I’m most grateful to the beast hyungs who didn’t give up until the end, “he gave credit to his colleagues.
Even compared to his high school rival and close friend Woojin Ahn (Kiwoom Heroes), his grades are not inferior at all. Ahn Woo-jin, who won two gold medals as a pitcher last year, is showing overwhelming results this season, recording 24 strikeouts in 2 games and 13 innings. He only allowed one run with a solo home run. His ERA was 0.69. However, Kwak Bin is also not easy. He struck out 17 in 2 games and 12⅓ innings and gave up no earned runs. ERA 0.
He shook his head in comparison with Ahn Woo-jin, showing confidence while showing a humble attitude. “The season has not been long. First of all, the goal is to complete the race without injury,” he said.
Catcher Yang Eui-ji, who returned to his home team this season, is a great source of strength. “They tell me to keep throwing balls that the hitter can’t hit until he hits 4 or 5. It makes it easy to catch the hitter,” he said. I throw it thinking it’s right. I shook my head and threw it for the first time when I was in the national team, but it got hit and I won’t throw it again. I believe in the opinion of Willie senior.”
As he said, it is early in the season, but Park Jong-hoon (SSG Landers, 6 innings), Bae Seong (KT Wiz, 9 innings), Song Myeong-ki (12 innings), Eric Peddy (13 innings, NC Dinos), Na Kyun-an (Lotte Along with the Giants, 13⅔ innings), he boasts an ERA of 0. Among them, only Na Kyun-an and Peddy pitched more innings than Kwak Bin, and no pitcher had more strikeouts.
Even with foreign player Dylan Pyle on hiatus due to injury, coach Lee Seung-yeop can play baseball with such a strong third starting pitcher.