“Kim Jin-wook is good these days. He’s confident throwing the ball now.”
Lotte Giants pitcher Kim Jin-wook has won over his manager with two consecutive strong performances.
Kim started the first game of the weekend series against the Samsung Lions at Samsung Lions Park in Daegu, South Korea, on April 19 and pitched six innings of two-run ball to lead the Giants to victory.
It was his third win of the season. It was a far cry from the “ball-ball-ball-ball” Kim Jin-wook of infamy. Not only was his six innings of three-hit, three-strikeout ball efficient, finishing with 99 pitches, but he didn’t falter after giving up a surprise home run.
The commander responded with trust. When he gave up a home run to Samsung’s Koo Ja-uk in the bottom of the sixth inning, everyone was surprised. It was a home run so hard to see that it went straight into the outfield stands.
It was a moment that would normally have sent him off the mound in disappointment. In fact, pitching coach Joo Hyung-kwang took the mound. But the LOTTE bench had faith in Kim Jin-wook, and he showed his newfound stability by closing out the sixth inning.
When asked before the game,
Lotte manager Kim Tae-hyung said, “I think Kim Jin-wook has settled down now. His last game (July 13 against the KT Wiz, 5⅓ innings, one run) was his best of the year,” Kim smiled. “I need to maintain my current form and not forget how to face hitters and fight on the mound,” he added.
Kim Jin-wook was the first name he looked up after the game. “He pitched really well,” said Kim Tae-hyung. I want to praise his steady pitching after the last game,” Kim said, giving him a thumbs-up.
Kim had his first crisis in the top of the first inning. 안전놀이터 He walked the first batter, Kim Heon-gon, and gave up a single to Koo Ja-uk to put runners on first and second. Cardenas then hit a grounder to center field that allowed Koo to advance to second base, putting runners on second and third, but Kang Min-ho was able to get out of the jam.
In the second and third innings, the bases were loaded. In the fourth inning, Cardenas grounded out to third baseman Choi Hwang, but he didn’t falter and picked off Kang Min-ho. He struck out four straight batters from Kim Young-woong to Lee Sung-kyu in the fifth and Ahn Joo-hyung in the sixth.
He gave up a double to Koo Ja-rook, his first hit in the KBO, and a walk to Kang Min-ho to tie the game. But he repaid his manager’s trust by striking out Kim Young-woong.
After the game,
Kim Jin-wook said, “I was a little shaky in the beginning, but I’m grateful that my teammate Sung-bin did a great job of protecting the lead. Before the game, I always tried to follow the same pattern and focus on pitches with good strikes, but I have a good fastball, so I think mixing it up properly led to good results,” he reflected.
“I’m disappointed about the home run in the last inning, but I’m happy that I was able to take responsibility as a starter and close out the inning. Coach Joo Hyung-kwang kept giving me feedback in the middle of the innings, telling me to take different pitches in each inning. I am grateful to him for always making the pitchers feel comfortable,” he added.
Kim Jin-wook concluded by saying, “I will continue to strive to play long innings as a starting pitcher and contribute to the team’s victory.”