Hwang Jae-gyun (KT Wiz) started as the sixth batter and third baseman in the 2024 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League SSG Landers’ showdown at SSG Landers Field in Incheon on the 26th.먹튀검증
Hwang, who had a hit in his first at-bat, took his second at-bat in the top of the fourth inning with two outs and runners on first base. The first pitch was a strike that came high outside, and the second pitch was a ball that escaped the zone. Since then, Oh’s three pitches went deep into his body. ABS (automatic ball judgment system) declared a strike. Hwang expressed his regret at this. Oh’s four-pitch four-seam fastball then came low into his body. Lee Ji-young failed to make a catch, and the ball fell to his side. However, referee Lee Gye-seong declared a strikeout.
Hwang Jae-gyun threw his helmet on the floor when a strikeout call came out. It was a complaint against ABS. Referee Lee Gye-seong immediately ordered Hwang Jae-gyun to leave. It was Hwang Jae-gyun’s first professional exit and one player’s first exit this season when ABS was introduced.
Hwang Jae-gyun met with reporters ahead of the match against SSG in Incheon on the 28th and expressed his position on ABS. “First of all, it is right that I did it wrong to act like that for a moment,” he said. “I think I executed it as if chasing the ABS. I think it was implemented when the preparation was not perfect.”
“I think the KBO implemented it with the feeling of ‘just do it’ without consulting with the Professional Baseball Players Association,” he continued. “The problem right now is that the second-tier team is not using ABS. Not long ago, a player from our team came up from the second-tier team and he measured his height. Each at-bat is so precious to them, and the pitchers’ first inning is so precious to them, and I don’t know where they have to adapt,” he added.
Hwang continued to express regret over communication. “It is fair and impartial. The opponents play in the same zone as well. However, I wish that we could have supplemented what we needed to supplement and had the players fully agree on it,” Hwang said. “Players should follow suit.”
Veteran players have recently expressed their regrets about ABS. A day after starting against KT in Suwon on the 24th, Ryu said, “I watched Moon Dong-ju’s pitch on the 23rd and grasped the ABS zone at KT Wiz Park. So I decided to target the outside of the left-handed batter,” adding, “But balls that I thought were strikes were declared.”
Since then, KBO has unusually shared ABS data. “There are many inquiries about ABS judgment data on Ryu Hyun-jin’s specific pitch against KT in Suwon on the 24th and Hanwha’s Moon Dong-ju’s specific pitch against KT in Suwon on the 23rd,” KBO said on Wednesday. “We will share the pitching tracking judgment data provided by ABS operator Sports2i.”
KBO said, “In the bottom of the third inning of KT Cho Yong-ho’s bat on the 24th, Ryu Hyun-jin’s pitching game, the third pitch passed the bottom of the ABS middle zone 0.15cm above, but he failed to pass the bottom of the zone at the end of the ABS by 0.78cm, so he was judged to be a ball,” and added, “The four pitches (strike decision) of KT’s Cheonseong-ho at the bottom of the fourth inning (ball decision decision) and the three pitches (ball decision) of KT’s Cheonseong-ho at the bottom of the first inning (ball decision) in which Ryu Hyun-jin pitched on the 24th are different positions as can be seen in the graphic.”
The “2024 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League” game between the Hanwha Eagles and the KT Wiz took place at KT Wiz Park in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province on the afternoon of April 24, 2024. Hanwha starter Ryu Hyun-jin is entering the dugout after allowing seven runs through the fourth inning./My Daily
“When introducing the ABS system, it would have been better if the system had been thoroughly discussed with the players before implementing it,” Choo said after completing the match against KT in Incheon on Wednesday. “It is regrettable that the process was not sufficient.”
Since the introduction of the ABS system, fans have responded positively. It is because of fair and consistent judgment. Since the introduction, the emotional fight between players and referees has also disappeared. What players regret is the lack of communication between KBO and the field. If the ABS system is supplemented through communication with the field, the players will be able to fully understand.