KIA Tigers pitcher Choi Ji-min is establishing himself as the main left-hander in the team this season. Choi Ji-min, who has secured a place in the first team with a fastball of 150 km/h and a sharp slider, is also aiming for a promotion to the Hangzhou Asian Games national team.
Choi Ji-min pitched in 10 games (12.1 innings) this season and recorded an average ERA of 2.19 with 1 hold, 6 strikeouts and 4 walks.
The match against the LG Twins in Jamsil on April 29 was a meaningful match for Choi Ji-min. On this day, Choi Ji-min took over the ball from Kim Dae-yu at the end of the 7th inning with a 5-0 lead. Choi Ji-min struck out Moon Seong-joo on a swing and allowed Oh Ji-hwan to walk. Afterwards, he was hit by one RBI in a timely manner by Austin Dean, but induced Kim Hyun-soo to double-hit to put out the urgent fire.
During the pitching process at the end of the 7th inning, Choi Ji-min caught attention by recording a speed ball speed of 150 km/h. Choi Ji-min, who was on the mound at the end of the 8th inning, finished the inning neatly with a three-way strikeout, including one strikeout. Choi Ji-min achieved the first hold in his debut with two scoreless innings.
KIA coach Kim Jong-guk met with reporters ahead of the game on the 30th and said, “(Choi) Jimin did his best to block it well in a difficult situation yesterday. His pitching is good, so he has strength against right-handed hitters as well as left-handed hitters. He praised him, saying, “He is a pitcher who can go anywhere in the future, starting or finishing.”
Choi Ji-min, who achieved his first hold in his debut, also met with the reporters and said, “Last year in the 2nd Army, with coach Son Seung-rak Future Steam and the drive line method, it seems that the twisting effect in the pitching posture has been created with training that has not been done before. As a result, it led to an increase in restraint. He smiled, saying, “I felt good because 150 km / h was recorded on the electronic signboard.
Choi Ji-min is showing his competitiveness without hesitation even in a team bullpen overflowing with lefties. There was also the ‘care’ of veteran pitcher Yang Hyeon-jong.
Choi Ji-min said, “At the beginning of this season, there was a lot of tension, but as he kept going up to the mound, his tension started to disappear. He tries to throw with confidence, thinking that batters will not be able to hit even if he throws in the middle rather than the corner of the zone. There are many left-handed seniors in the first team, so he is learning from various points. He felt that the season was a long race and it was not good to relax too much. Senior Yang Hyeon-jong also has a good ball, but he advises me to throw with confidence because there are often scenes where I am too intimidated.”
Choi Ji-min was included in the preliminary entry for the Hangzhou Asian Games recently announced by the KBO. If you continue to maintain a good pitching sense, the challenge to board the Asian Games is not a vague dream.
Choi Ji-min said, “Honestly, it would be a lie if I said I had no expectations for the Asian Games national team. Still, I want to do better than I do now and be proudly selected for the national team. Personally, I think the redemption could be higher. I hope Jin-wook (Kim), a senior in high school, will do well with his older brother and be selected for the national team together.”토스카지노
If he is a lefty who can hit 150 km/h, he is definitely a player who is qualified to board the national team. I wonder if Choi Ji-min will be able to break through the Asian Games national team competition like a needle hole and seize the opportunity to wear the first adult Taegeuk mark.