The KT WIZ of the Korean Baseball Organization has won seven of its last 10 games, the highest winning percentage among the 10 clubs.
As of the 29th, there has been no significant change in the team’s ranking (9th), but the gap with the 5th place SSG Landers has been reduced to 4.5 games. The mood is set for a rebound.
Leading the team’s turnaround has been bullpen pitcher Kim Min-ju (25).
Kim has appeared in 13 games since June, posting a 2-0 record with a 1.56 ERA in three relief appearances.
His performance has been significant in a bullpen that has been shaken up by the loss of closer Son Dong-hyun to a herniated disk.
In fact, Kim was a 1.5 starter who hadn’t made much of an impact in the first team until last year.
After joining KT in 2018, Kim competed for a starting job every year with his 150 mph fastball, but never really stood out.
He was also not used much in the bullpen. This was due to serious pitching problems.
In the past, KT manager Lee Kang-cheol once said, “You can’t walk too many batters if you want to be used in a game, but Kim has a lot of anxiety.”
Due to his reduced role in the team, Kim spent more time in the second team than the first team.
It was only last month that Kim showed a change in his behavior.
He pitched reliably in close games and didn’t falter in extra-inning situations.
Manager Lee Kang-cheol entrusted him with the role of closer, and he threw strikes even in close games.
Kim has now become KT’s most trusted bullpen pitcher.
“Since this spring, Kim’s control has gotten better and better, especially with his two-seam fastball,” Lee said ahead of the first game of the doubleheader against the Samsung Lions at KT Wiz Park in Suwon on Tuesday.
Kim explained that he had been throwing mostly four-seam fastballs until he changed his grip and solved his control issues.
Kim’s two-seam fastball is just as fast as his four-seam fastball, with more movement.
He boldly abandoned his four-seam, which had been his main weapon, and became a two-seam pitcher.
After gaining the trust of manager Lee Kang-cheol, Kim was named to the roster for the 2024 All-Star Game.
This will be Kim’s first time playing in an All-Star Game. 바카라사이트