I put my soul into 141km.
Commentator Oh Jae-won of SPOTV, who relayed the match between LG and KIA in Jamsil on the 28th, said at the end of the 11th inning, “It is clear that the pitch has fallen.” At the same time, he said, “Because Jung Hae-young, who has grown up strong, is competing with the course.” After the game, he praised Jung Hae-young’s fighting spirit.
It had to be. KIA finisher Jung Hae-young had already digested 15 pitches in the 10th episode. Commissioner Oh Jae-won pointed out that Jung Hae-young’s pitching was poor in the 11th inning, but he said that he could be because he threw about 50 pitches, including pitches from the bullpen. As it rained heavily on the field, it was not easy for pitchers and hitters to maintain concentration. Jung Hae-young was decisively pitching one inning against Gwangju NC on the 27th.
Even taking this into consideration, it is a fact that Jung Hae-young’s speed this season is slightly less than in previous years. According to the baseball statistics site Statties, Jung Hae-young’s average speed of his fastball this season is 141.2 km. The match on the 28th was 140.6km. Compared to 144.6 km in the 2022 season, there is a difference of about 3 km.
Of course, Jung Hae-young is a style that competes with high-quality rotation and good vertical movement rather than speed. He is a good pitcher with more than speed. However, there is a possibility that the number of revolutions has decreased to some extent as the speed has decreased. When Commissioner Oh said that he would compete on the course, he meant Jeong Hae-young’s realistic survival instinct.
Anyway, it’s yielding results. In the bottom of the 11th inning, 1 out and 1 baseman gave Hong Chang-ki a good hit, but the game ended with a double out. He struggled in the beginning of the season, but from the game against Hanwha in Gwangju on the 12th to this day, he scored no runs in 7 consecutive games and lowered his ERA to 3.09. He had 2 wins, 1 loss and 2 saves in 11 games. 0.203 batting average and 1.03 WHIP.크크크벳
It is true that Jung Hae-young made the team’s footsteps a little heavier by conceding goals in 2-3 games at the beginning of the season. However, he focuses on command and control and is producing results. This season, the KIA bullpen has improved both in quantity and quality, but there is no alternative other than Jung Hae-young to finish. Jeon Sang-hyun, who has experience in finishing, is considered an alternative, but director Kim Jong-guk’s opinion is that it is best to go all the way to Jung Hae-young. It is not a situation that can put a big burden on Jang Hyun-sik, who has just returned from elbow rehabilitation.
From May, when the temperature rises, there is room for a little more improvement in pitch and speed. Above all, the fact that Jung Hae-young produces results on her own and does not stagnate is important in itself. It was a close game for KIA, but Jung Hae-young’s two-inning relief victory had a great meaning in its own way.