LG Twins left-hander Young-gun Kim Yun-sik gave hope to the team with his improved pitching in his first team appearance in about three months.안전놀이터
Kim Yun-sik started the 12th game between the Hanwha Eagles and the Hanwha Eagles in the 2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League held at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul on the 2nd and recorded 6 hits, 1 walk, 3 strikeouts, and 1 run in 5 innings.
It has been 86 days since Kim Yun-sik stepped on the first-team mound against Jamsil Kiwoom Heroes on June 8 (5 innings, 12 hits, 1 strikeout, 7 runs). While he was in a slump this season with 3 wins, 4 losses, and an average ERA of 5.29 in 11 games, he stayed in the second team for nearly three months and went through the process of getting back in shape.
Kim Yun-sik had the difficult time of leaving runners on base every inning, but he demonstrated excellent crisis management skills. In the top of the first inning, with two outs and two on second base, Hanwha’s fourth batter, Chae Eun-seong, was grounded to second base and got off to a good start.
In the top of the second inning, with one out and two on second base, Jang Jin-hyuk allowed an RBI and timely hit to take the lead, but he did not waver. Catcher Park Dong-won helped Kim Yun-sik by blocking Jang Jin-hyuk’s attempt to steal second base with an accurate throw, and Kim Yun-sik immediately struck out Park Sang-eon to end the inning.
In the top of the third inning, leadoff hitter Lee Do-yoon hit a single, but Park Dong-won once again stepped up as Kim Yun-sik’s guardian angel. Lee Do-yoon’s attempt to steal second base was caught by Park Dong-won’s accurate throw, creating conditions for Kim Yun-sik to pitch comfortably.
Later, in the top of the 4th inning, with no outs on first base, Kim Yun-sik hit Tae-yeon Kim with a double play that led to the third baseman, second baseman, and first baseman, and escaped the crisis on his own. In the top of the 5th inning, with 2 outs and runners on first base, Eun-Won Jeong was hit with a ground ball and lasted 5 innings. He threw a variety of breaking balls, including fastballs with a maximum speed of 146km, sliders, changeups, and curves, and recorded 80 pitches.
It was painful that LG’s winning streak ended with a 3-5 loss to Hanwha, but Kim Yun-sik’s pitching was clearly a great harvest. Kim Yun-sik showed what LG coach Yeom Kyung-yeop expected before the game.
LG’s Plutko, who played the role of ace, was canceled from the first team entry due to a left pelvic bone bruise on the 29th of last month. It is expected that it will take about 4 to 5 weeks until his return, which is bad news for the direct challenge to the Korean Series against No. 1 Mercury.
Coach Yeom Kyung-yeop believes that if Kim Yun-sik can regain his performance from the second half of last year (5 wins, 2 losses, ERA 2.68 in 11 games), he can sufficiently fill Plutko’s void and get closer to winning the regular season.
Before the game on the 2nd, coach Yeom Gyeong-yeop said, “Kim Yun-sik must play well. Kim Yun-sik is the key to (fall baseball),” and “If Kim Yun-sik plays well, I don’t think we will think about Plutko. Conversely, if Kim Yun-sik doesn’t play well, Plutko’s injury will be too serious.” “I can’t help but feel regretful,” he emphasized.
Kim Yun-sik successfully completed his return to the mound. If Kim Yun-sik continues to perform well in the remaining games of the second half, LG’s path to the Korean Series for the first time in 21 years could become easier.