Choi Won-tae of the LG Twins took the mound as the second pitcher in Game 16 of the season between the Lotte Giants of the 2024 Shinhan Bank SOL Bank KBO League and the team at Sajik Stadium in Busan on the 19th, and won his ninth victory of the season with 87 pitches, eight hits (one homer), one walk, five strikeouts and four runs (four earned) in five ⅓ innings.토토사이트
Choi Won-tae originally planned to be the starting pitcher for the Sajik Lotte match on the 19th. However, before the game on the 18th, manager Yeom Kyung-yeop reported that Choi Won-tae was not able to take the mound. It was because of dizziness caused by the symptoms of otolithiasis. In response, manager Yeom Kyung-yeop indicated the possibility that Lee Ji-gang would take the mound as a starter, but just before the game began on the 18th, the news that Choi Won-tae’s condition was improving was reported. And as Lee Ji-gang took the mound as a bullpen pitcher, the possibility of Choi Won-tae taking the mound increased.
However, after the game ended on Wednesday, the LG Twins’ starting pitcher was neither Choi Won-tae nor Lee Ji-gang, but Im Jun-hyung. However, manager Yeom Kyung-yeop brought another news before the game on Wednesday. It was that Choi will take the mound following Im Jun-hyung. On the previous day (18th), he did not receive a hospital checkup due to the Chuseok holiday, but after visiting the hospital on Wednesday morning, he was found to have mild symptoms of otolithiasis, and Choi’s condition improved a lot.
“When asked about Choi Won-tae, he said, “I think I’ll be fine. I came to the ballpark today. That’s why I think I’ll play in the second inning. I was chosen as a disguised starter unintentionally.” “Yesterday (18th), I was told that I wasn’t feeling well, so I didn’t come to the ballpark either. If I had been okay at all, I would have just started. But yesterday, he said he couldn’t go out because he was dizzy. I couldn’t go to the hospital yesterday, but the results of my checkup on Wednesday came out okay. He said he is okay, too,” citing the possibility of playing in the first inning depending on the situation.
Then, Choi appeared from the first inning. With two outs and runners on the first and second bases, Choi took over the baton and tied Jeon Joon-woo, the follow-up hitter, to the right field to start the game. However, he lost a point immediately in the second inning. After receiving a double from leadoff hitter Na Seung-yeop, he gave up a walk to Yoon Dong-hee, which is why he had a timely hit to Information Keun at the first and second bases crisis. Nevertheless, Choi ended the inning without any additional runs by striking out Hwang Sung-bin, third baseman foul fly, and Ko Seung-min at a crisis point.
After overcoming the crisis with the least number of runs, Choi stabilized. He allowed leadoff hitter Son Ho-young to hit the ball in the third inning, but he cooked the following batters perfectly, and made the first three outs in the fourth inning against Lotte’s lower lineup. However, with the help of Hong Chang-ki in the fifth inning, Choi quickly accumulated an out-count, and was hit by consecutive hits by Son Ho-young and Victor Reyes for the second time, and was hit by a two-run homer by Yoon Dong-hee in the sixth inning, but was able to enjoy the joy of the winning pitcher thanks to strong support from the batters.
Choi Won-tae, who met after the game, first expressed his regret to Lim Joon-hyung. “First of all, I’m so sorry for (Im) Jun-young. I took the mound in a hurry because of myself, but I want to tell him I’m really sorry,” he said when asked about taking the mound in the presence of a runner, “I thought I should block Jun-young unconditionally because he was a runner, and give him a point from the next inning even if he gave me a point. If I hadn’t stopped the crisis, I wouldn’t have seen Jun-young’s face.”
Otolithiasis. What kind of symptoms did he have? “I woke up yesterday (18th) and suddenly he said that. I couldn’t eat and my speed wasn’t good. When I was lying down, I felt like I was spinning constantly,” Choi said. “The coach said he had otolithiasis, but I thought it was Heo Jun. I got better after sleeping.” “I got a checkup at the hospital today (19th), and the doctor told me I could go to the game, and after 20 minutes of manual therapy, I got much better. I was fine as I focused while playing the game.”
Choi Won-tae, who suffered various injuries this year, said, “I think I’m going through a lot this year. It’s amazing that I’ve never experienced this before. I heard that this is like a cold in the ear. I’m glad that I got well.” When asked about the treatment, he said, “They say it’s okay to lie down on the right side, but I hope my throat doesn’t get sore again.”He smiled awkwardly.
He couldn’t play his usual routine as a starter, but his experience as a bullpen helped him greatly. Choi Won-tae said, “Before that, I was nervous because I couldn’t catch a ball because of the heat wave, but I knew what to do because I prepared as a bullpen pitcher in fall baseball when I was with my previous team. I allowed four runs, but I think the process was good. In fact, I have no conscience in giving four runs and hoping for a victory, but I was able to win because the batters hit me well. And behind the scenes, (Ham) Deok-ju, (Lee) Jung-joon, and (Yoo) Young-chan defended me well.”
Finally, Choi said, “I can’t look at the coach today. But I’m glad I won. If I lost, I would have avoided the coach.” There were many twists and turns, but it was an eventful two days for Choi to recover his physical condition and return to the mound to help his team win.