LG Park Myung-geun (19) has been struggling. At one point, he was even considered for Rookie of the Year honors, but his late-season slump is worrisome.
Park was selected in the third round, 27th overall, in the 2023 rookie draft. He was the only rookie to participate in spring training and was trusted by coach Yeom Kyung-yup.
However, Park’s start was shaky. In his debut against the KT Wiz on April 1, he gave up three runs on two hits and one walk. He did not record a single out.
After a few adjustment periods, Park began to make his presence felt. Starting on April 14 against the Doosan Bears, he went on a 13-game scoreless streak. During that time, he recorded one win, three holds, and two saves. When closer Ko Woo-seok was sidelined with an injury, Park Myung-geun stepped up to the plate.
He finished the first half with 4 wins, 5 saves, 5 holds, and a 3.25 ERA in 36 games and 36 innings pitched. He was selected to the All-Star Game as a manager’s pick, but the injury kept him out.
It wasn’t a serious injury. He’s a high school rookie and played a lot in the first half, so we gave him plenty of rest. Park returned in mid-August to fill the void left by Jung Woo-young and Ko Woo-seok, who were sent to the Asian Games.
However, he struggled in six games in August, giving up five runs on five hits in five innings with four walks and three strikeouts.
The slump seemed to be temporary. In nine innings of work on September 11, he allowed two runs on six hits (one home run) with five walks and six strikeouts in a 2.00 ERA.
In his first game of October, he recorded his ninth hold of the season with one scoreless inning against KT on Sept. 2, but has suddenly struggled again.
He gave up three runs on three hits with one walk and one strikeout in ⅓ inning against Lotte on the 4th and three runs on two hits with one walk and three strikeouts against KIA on the 6th without recording a single out. The team lost the game 2-3, making Park the losing pitcher. Park felt especially guilty because it was the day LG celebrated its championship in front of its home fans. During the victory ceremony, he was unable to look up from the mound as his teammates comforted him on the sidelines.스포츠토토
On the ninth, he took the mound again. He pitched in the top of the seventh inning when his team was down 1-5. Manager Yoon Kyung-yeop hoped that he could find his form again in a more comfortable situation.
However, Park Myung-geun was immediately hit by a 143-kilometer fastball from Jeon Jun-woo for a home run, and when he couldn’t get the ball out of the zone, he sent the ball down the line. Han Dong-hee continued to struggle with a single to right. With runners on first and third, Jung Dae-sun hit a single to left field. Eventually, the LG bench pulled Park Myung-geun and brought in Yoon Hosol. Yoon walked one of Park’s runners to load the bases, bringing Park’s run total to three. For the second straight game, he gave up three runs without recording a single out. In his last three games, he has allowed nine runs in ⅓ innings.
Compared to the beginning of the season, his velocity is down and his command is not there. He’s been an integral part of the LG bullpen, and now that the team is preparing for the Korean Series, Park’s red flags are making them nervous.