His performance exceeded expectations, and he became the fulcrum of the team’s victory. But he didn’t get the individual victory. Too many pitches.
Shin Min-hyuk (24-NC Dinos) pitched four and two-thirds innings against the Doosan Bears in the 2023 KBO League regular season at Changwon NC Park on Friday, giving up one run on five hits (one home run) with two walks and two strikeouts. While pitching, the team scored a whopping nine runs, and the starter himself pitched well.
Shin’s task on the day was to start in relief. Originally, ace Eric Peddy was scheduled to start, but he was scratched from the first team a day earlier after feeling pain in his right forearm while pitching out of the bullpen. He was diagnosed with a right forearm flexor sprain. He will be out for about 10 days, and Shin Min-hyuk was the first to step up to fill in.
Before the game, Shin’s personal record was 3-2 with a 5.20 ERA in eight games. NC removed him from the first team roster on March 24, and he has been preparing to return to the starting lineup in the Futures (second team) league since then. “He’s been pitching consistently in the Futures League, so he’s capable of throwing up to 100 pitches,” Kang said ahead of his start on Friday.
Doosan also called up Choi Won-jun, who just returned to the first team. On paper, Doosan is a heavy favorite. They had won 30 games in the last three years, even with their recent slump. But when the lid was lifted, Shin Min-hyuk’s performance stood out. After striking out the side in the first inning, Shin Min-hyuk gave up singles to Yang Seok-hwan and Kim Jae-hwan in the second, but he was able to get a low changeup to Heo Kyung-min in right field to record the first out of the inning, and Park Geon-woo in right field to make a bodhisattva catch of Yang Seok-hwan rushing home on Kim Dae-hwan’s fly ball to left field to end the inning with no outs.
After giving up a walk to Lee Yoo-chan in the top of the third, Jeong Soo-bin singled to load the bases again, but catcher Park Se-hyuk settled down and got the next two batters, Park Kye-beom and Yang Ji, to strike out swinging and ground out to third base to preserve the shutout.
Shin Min-hyuk, who finished the fourth inning with just one infield hit, gave up his first run in the fifth. After a nine-pitch battle with leadoff hitter Jang Seung-hyun, he gave up a solo shot to left. A changeup in the middle of the plate was missed by Jang Seung-hyun.
Still only one run down. After Jang Seung-hyun’s home run, he easily added two more outs. One more run would have given him a 9-1 lead and a comfortable victory.토토사이트
However, Shin Min-hyuk didn’t capitalize on that opportunity. He gave up a double to the next batter, Park Kye-beom, and then gave up a walk to Yang Ji after a five-pitch battle. Neither of these runs would have made a difference in the game. The problem was the pitch count. He threw 108 pitches, and there was no way he was going to go longer to win.
In the end, Shin Min-hyuk was unable to complete the fifth inning and the mound was handed over to Cho Min-seok. It was the only disappointment for NC in an otherwise clean and cool game.
The score was 9-1 in favor of NC at the start of the 6th inning.