It was my first time 160km..." Heroes float high-speed sidearm, already shown to KIA as a sneak peek
It was my first time 160km..." Heroes float high-speed sidearm, already shown to KIA as a sneak peek
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Right-hander sidearm Lee Kang-joon (23, Kiwoom Heroes) took the mound as a relief pitcher in a practice game against the KIA Tigers on Oct. 9 and recorded 160km on the Gwangju KIA Champions Field electronic display. In fact, the electronic display tends to show more than the actual speed limit. Therefore, it can be said that he actually threw the late 150km range.카지노사이트
It's an unofficial practice game, but it has huge implications. Kang originally threw two-seam fastballs in the early 150-kilometer range, but his speed increased further at Sangmu. "It was my first time to do 160 kilometers in number," Lee said at the Goyang Baseball Stadium on Wednesday. "I made small changes because I thought I should throw the ball at the highest level where I can throw the ball the most comfortable. My arms went up higher than before I joined the military," Lee said. He explained that he is close to the third quarter now.
After graduating from Seorak High School, he joined KT Wiz as the 22nd pick in the second round of 2020. However, on July 31, 2021, he moved to the Lotte Giants through a trade. Kim Joon-tae and Oh Yoon-seok go to KT, and Lee Kang-jun go to Lotte. Lee Kang-jun's prospects were great enough that Lotte gave up two players and brought them back.
And when Lotte recruited Han Hyun-hee from the 2022-2023 FA market, he went to Kiwoom as a reward player. Kiwoom selected Lee Kang-joon even though he knew he would join the military in May 2023. He was discharged from the military in early November, and Kiwoom will use it in earnest from the 2025 season after waiting for two seasons.
Lee Kang-joon said, "I started pitching when I was a second grader in high school. I threw sideways from the beginning. I started pitching starting with KT, and there was not much difference in four-seam and speed, but there was more movement. I heard coaches and batters back then, and they said they had good fighting spirit."
He has moved twice in five seasons since his debut. "I went to the Guam camp as an advance team, and as soon as I arrived, I was embarrassed because Kakao kept sending messages. Anyway, I personally think it's a better opportunity to come to Kiwoom," Lee said.
Kiwoom expects Lee Kang-joon to join the must-win pitching team of the 2025 season along with Jo Sang-woo, Won Jong-hyun and Kim Seong-min. He had high expectations for that in the first place, but since he raised his arm a little bit at Sangmu, he has no choice but to manage his facial expression as his speed and ball power have improved. His ball control and command have also improved.
Lee Kang-joon said, "It's not that batters can't hit just because their arms are a little low, and even if their arms go up a little, they have to throw stronger balls and throw a lot of balls in the strike zone so that batters can't hit." Originally, side pitchers had a feeling that their arms should not come up, but they abandoned that stereotype.
As a result, he pitched in 44 games for Sangmu this season, recording 3 wins, 1 loss, 11 saves, 8 holds, and 0.76 ERA. "It was a time to reflect on things that I had never tried and forgotten. I made it mine. Sangmu's coach helped me a lot," Lee said.
Lee Kang-joon said, "I think I've changed a lot since I've been in the military. My mentality has matured. I've gained confidence. That's why I'm looking forward to next year. It would be nice to join the must-win group next year, but I don't think about the position. I'll do my best in every game I go out without thinking about 'how many innings I'll throw. Then I think I can prove what I've prepared little by little."