“NC hitters have improved their hitting skills… I’m nervous, but I’m also looking forward to it.”
Reporter Kim Joo-hee = “Now all that remains is the game with the batters.”
Park Young-hyun (KT Wiz), the star of the gold medal for the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games baseball team, is waiting to play in the fall baseball season.
Park Young-hyun, who met at KT Wiz Park in Suwon on the 29th, expressed his excitement, saying, “I had a lot of good experiences at the Asian Games. I can’t forget that feeling. That’s why I’m looking forward to this postseason even more.”
KT will play the playoffs (PO, 3 wins out of 5) against NC Dinos starting on the 30th.
Park Young-hyun, a pitcher in his second year of debut, is the team’s sure-to-win card.
Last year, in 52 games, he had no wins, 1 loss, 2 holds, and an ERA of 3.66. This year, he recorded 3 wins, 3 losses, 32 holds, 4 saves, and an ERA of 2.75 in 68 games and became the holds king.
He showed a strong performance even on the big stage.
He set a new record for the youngest save in the KBO League (19 years, 6 days) by pitching 2 innings, 1 strikeout, and no runs in the 2nd match against Kiwoom Heroes last year.
At the Hangzhou Asian Games, which ended early this month, he wore the Taegeuk symbol for the first time and performed strongly. He appeared in 4 of the 6 games the national team played, allowing 5⅓ innings without allowing a run, and led Korea to the championship.
National team experience can also have a big impact in the postseason.
NC Dinos Kim Young-gyu, who went to Hangzhou with Park Young-hyun, is showing off his power as the bullpen ace this fall by going 4 games without giving up a run. Kim Young-gyu said several times during the postseason that “the Asian Games experience is of great help.”
Younghyun Park is also looking forward to this.
He said, “I learned a lot from feeling that way (at international games). I’m proud that everyone was looking at the same thing and overcoming that (high pressure) atmosphere, and it’s great to have that experience itself.” I pointed out the meaning.
At the same time, he smiled and said, “I’m really looking forward to (the short-term fall baseball game) because it is played in a similar atmosphere.”
KT was the first to finish the regular season on the 10th and had PO preparation time for about 3 weeks.
Park Young-hyun explained, “I think my tension has eased a little after attending the Asian Games. My velocity has dropped a lot,” and “I’ve refined my thoughts a lot and talked a lot with the coaches.”
NC, which finished the wild card game and semi-playoff without a single loss and became PO, boasts formidable firepower.
Park Young-hyun expressed his caution by saying, “All the opposing hitters were hitting well. That makes me more nervous. I am conscious of it. The hitters have a heightened sense of hitting, and doing it in that atmosphere gives me adrenaline.”
But his confidence did not change. “That’s why I’m looking forward to it even more. It’s the pitcher’s job to catch those batters,” he said, emphasizing his role.먹튀검증
In a short-term game where there is no tomorrow, repeated fights are unavoidable. Park Young-hyun, with his eyes shining, said, “Now the only thing left is the game against the batters,” and expressed his determination, “I had a good fight in the Asian Games. Of course, I can do it here as well. I will give my all as the team’s championship is at stake.”