“I’m not sure which position is better…”
KIA Tigers manager Lee Bum-ho mentioned reliever Kim Ki-hoon ahead of the first game of the weekend’s three consecutive games against the NC Dinos in the “2024 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League” at Changwon NC Park on the 23rd.스포츠토토
Kim Ki-hoon helped KIA win 6-4 by taking the mound in relief in the last game (against the Lotte Giants in Gwangju on the 22nd). Kim Do-hyun, who started, went down the mound after four innings, and Kim Ki-hoon, who took over the baton, played two scoreless innings, setting the stage for victory.
It is Kim Ki-hoon, a promising player that Kia has high expectations for. Kim Ki-hoon, who joined Kia as the first draft pick of the “2019 KBO League Rookie Draft,” received high expectations as he hails from the same Gwangju Dongseong High School as his senior Yang Hyun-jong. In addition, he is also a left-handed pitcher and a talent who will lead future starting teams, drawing attention.
KIA pitcher Kim Ki-hoon took the mound as relief pitcher in the last game of three consecutive games during the week against Lotte in the “2024 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League” held at KIA Champions Field in Gwangju on Sunday. He contributed to his team’s victory by allowing no runs in two innings. KIA manager Lee Bum-ho is trying to use Kim Ki-hoon as a bullpen pitcher. KIA Tigers
However, Kim Ki-hoon did not grow as much as he expected. He recorded 1.04 ERA in eight ⅔ innings in five games in the 2022 season, which was right after he resolved the military issue at Sangmu (National Military Sports Unit), but was shaken by 4.60 ERA in two wins and 31 ⅓ innings in 29 games in the 2023 season, the following year. Ahead of this season, he started tempering by taking starting classes.
Instead of starting, Kim turned into a bullpen pitcher. He went on training with teammates Yoo Seung-cheol, Kim Hyun-soo, Kim Min-jae, and Cho Dae-hyun at “Tread Athletic” in Charlotte, North Carolina. The effect of studying abroad was obvious. Kim Ki-hoon, who took the mound in the first division of this year at the match against the Doosan Bears in Gwangju on June 31, was sluggish in ⅔ innings at the time, allowing three runs, but since then, he has displayed stable pitching to energize the bullpen. He has pitched in six games and allowed no runs in seven innings this month.
Lee wanted Kim Ki-hoon to energize the bullpen. Hwang Dong-ha and Kim Do-hyun are active in the starting lineup. KIA has many resources to start including Yoon Young-cheol (fractured spine due to fatigue) and Lee Eui-ri (fractured elbow ligament reconstruction surgery and bone fragment removal surgery).
Manager Lee said, “(Kim) Ki-hoon needs to increase the number of pitches he can pitch for starting pitchers as well. I’m not sure which position is better yet, but under the current circumstances, (Hwang) Dong-ha and (Kim) Do-hyun are in the same position. For the team, it seems that the better direction is for Ki-hoon to become a pitcher who can perfectly block one inning by throwing as long as he is now. Also, (Yoon) Young-chul is in the team, and (Lee) will come back next year. Since Ki-hoon has many players in the starting lineup this year and next year, I think he can become a player who can throw one or two innings well, and if he has another chance, he can challenge himself then.”
“After returning from the U.S., Ki-hoon seems to have discovered what kind of baseball he will play and what kind of pitching form is good for him. While practicing, his speed and control are different from before. Knowing that he can throw strikes well, he seems to throw the ball more confidently. He must have figured out how to throw in the U.S. I hope he can keep practicing and keep throwing in one form without changing his form,” he added.
Kia is not the starting pitcher that it had planned, but Kim Ki-hoon has a big role to play. He is gradually stabilizing this year’s performance with an earned run average of 3.12 in eight games and eight ⅔ innings. How will Kim Ki-hoon perform in the bullpen pitcher lineup in the rest of the season? If he continues to display strong pitching, his team will be able to take a step closer to winning the title that it wants.