I feel good because I think it was an opportunity to motivate my juniors.”
Noh Kyung-eun (SSG Landers), who is displaying the dignity of a veteran, is never tired. Even for his younger teammates, he is determined to throw more balls.메이저사이트
Noh Kyung-eun relieved starter Kim Kwang-hyun at the bottom of the sixth inning with one out and runners on the second and third bases with SSG leading 3-2 in the away game of the 2024 professional baseball KBO League regular season against the Hanwha Eagles at Hanwha Life Eagles Park in Daejeon on the 28th.
If a player makes a single hit, the game may change in a heartbeat. Veteran Noh Kyung-eun, however, remained calm. He tied Lee Jae-won with “not-out” after a game of four pitches, extinguishing the fire in a hurry. Then, using a fastball of 144 kilometers on five pitches, pinch hitter Ha Ju-seok gave a strikeout.
Noh showed off his presence in the bottom of the seventh inning when SSG lost 4-2. He struck out Lee Sang-hyuk. Choi gave a hit to the right, but ended the day’s mission by increasing the outcount against Kim Tae-yeon (three strikeouts) and Moon Hyun-bin (left-handed fly). Driven by Noh’s performance, SSG defeated Hanwha 6-2. Noh was given the 38th hold of the season.
After the game, Noh said, “I do weight training constantly, but I didn’t do it at the end because I didn’t want to show my ball power before the end of the season. I didn’t do weight training for the performance, but maintained good condition in my arm,” adding, “I thought fastball was powerful personally, so I thought not to twist it and just throw it deep and hard. I had to be careful with one big shot. I think I got a good result when I went deep.”
“I thought (with runners on the second and third bases with one out at the bottom of the sixth inning) it doesn’t matter. I tried not to rush to the batter. (I) am sorry for (opponent batter) (Lee) Jae-won, but I thought to throw the ball deeply. When the autograph came out, I was going to throw the ball deep no matter what,” he said.
Noh Kyung-eun, who has played for the Lotte Giants since the 2022 season after being called by the Doosan Bears through the first nomination in 2003, is a veteran with abundant experience. He had 78 wins, 90 losses, 10 saves, and 48 holds average ERA of 4.99 in 484 games (1,306.1 innings) until last year.
Noh Kyung-eun has continued to display stellar performance this year as well. She has been active in the must-win group, saving SSG in every crisis moment. Including the game against Hanwha this season, she has already confirmed the title of “Hold King” with eight wins, five losses and 38 holds with an ERA of 2.90 in 77 games (83.2 innings).
Noh Kyung-eun said, “Since I played in too many tight games in the first half of the year, I don’t have that kind of impression even if I play in the second half of the year. Let’s just do what we usually do. I thought about playing one batter at a time, but the result was good,” and added, “I think I will play according to the situation regardless of whether I lose or win. I am not thinking about playing in a hold situation.”
The 38th hold with his jersey number is personally meaningful. “When people around me asked me about it, I told them that I wanted to finish it with my back number. I think it’s a bit meaningful for me personally to achieve it,” he said with a big smile.
Noh Kyung-eun said, “When I was in the season, I always forgot about records and played baseball just thinking about games. However, as records are accumulated and achieved, I have a goal for next year,” adding, “I want to play 20 games next year, and if I hurry up, I will challenge 30 games and play for 3 consecutive years. I am looking forward to next year thanks to that motivation. I personally feel very encouraged when it comes to playing this season.”
The records that Noh is writing will give great motivation to younger players as well. “There are players like me who get older and get better results. Rather than doing so just because they are old, I will become a good example and give motivation to younger players such as “I can achieve this record even when I am old like Noh Kyung-eun,” Noh said. “I also feel good.”
Having grabbed three consecutive wins on the day, SSG continued its hope to advance to the post season by posting 71 wins, two draws and 70 losses. If SSG wins the match against the Kiwoom Heroes in Incheon on Monday, it will tie KT Wiz (72 wins, two draws and 70 losses) for the first time in its history as a tiebreaker for fifth place. The tiebreaker will take place in Suwon on October 1, the day before the first round of the wild card match.
Noh Kyung-eun said, “(Players) keep checking the results of KT’s game, but I think it’s meaningless. We have to win anyway. I tried not to watch it as much as possible,” adding, “There is no tomorrow.” Pitcher parts are preparing, thinking that no one knows when they will play in the first or second innings. I think they are jokingly waiting for me. I am preparing my mind as if I am playing a short-term amateur competition. (Whether I will advance to the post season) I think there is a decision to make (the post season). There is a decision from heaven. I will follow the will of heaven,” he added to his voice.