Is it time to bury the term “special left-hander” in the past? When will the time for readjustment and return to the main league team come for Kim Jin-wook (22) of the Lotte Giants.
Kim Jin-wook started the Futures League game against the Samsung Lions at Gyeongsan Ball Park on the 5th, and was substituted after allowing eight hits (two homers) and two walks, one strikeout and seven runs in four innings.유흥알바
It was Kim Jin-wook’s first start in the Futures League this year. He was shaken up from the first inning. He got an infield hit to the second baseman by Kim Seong-yoon, the first batter, and a fly to the center field by Lee Jae-hyun, putting him on the verge of being runners on the first and second bases with no outs. He struck out Yang Woo-hyun and Kim Jae-hyuk with a fly ball to center field to make two outs. However, he gave up a walk to Kim Dong-jin after two outs, creating a crisis with the bases loaded with two outs, and Lee Chang-yong hit a grand slam. He allowed four runs in a flash. Kim even got a double after that, but Kim caught Kim Do-hwan with a fly ball to left field to complete the first inning.
In the second inning, he caught leadoff hitter Lee Hyun-joon with a fly ball to left field. After one out, he sent a hit ball to Kim Sung-yoon, but blocked Kim from stealing second base and caught Lee Jae-hyun with a grounder to shortstop to end the inning without a crisis in the second inning.
However, he allowed another run in the third inning. Two outs later, he brought about a crisis. He grounded out to the second base and Kim Jae-hyuk to the shortstop. After two outs, he got a hit to the left field by Kim Dong-jin, making it two outs and a first base, and he dedicated a two-run shot to the left field once again to Lee Chang-yong. Afterwards, Kim hit a fly ball to the left field to complete the third inning.
Kim Jin-wook took the mound again in the fourth inning. After catching leadoff hitter Kim Do-hwan with a grounder to the third base, he gave a left-handed hit to Lee Hyun-joon and a walk to Kim Seong-yoon, putting the batter at risk with one out and runners on the first and second bases. For now, he induced Lee Jae-hyun to ground out to the third base, and threw a runner on the first base out at the second base. With two outs, he got to the first and third base, and allowed his seventh run after being hit to the right field by Yang Woo-hyun. Kim Jae-hyuk pitched a grounder to the third base, and finished the inning until the fourth inning. Through the fourth inning, he threw 76 pitches, 44 ball strikes, and 32 balls.
Kim Jin-wook, a former left-hander who joined the team in the first round of the second round of the rookie draft in 2021, has yet to display his full potential. Lee Eui-ri, a fellow Korean at Gangneung High School, and Choi Ji-min, a year younger than Choi Ji-min, were selected as the national team for the Hangzhou Asian Games, which took place last year, and even received military service benefits. He has been reborn as a left-hander who represents the league. However, Kim Jin-wook has yet to leave notable records in the main league despite drawing more attention and expectations than them.
He started as a starter, then returned to the bullpen, then moved to the bullpen after starting again. Until this year, his fourth year as a member of the team, he could not find a position suitable for him. Of course, there were times when he inflated expectations by continuing to display quality pitching. Notably, Kim Jin-wook continued his first 11 consecutive games without allowing any points, raising expectations that he has now succeeded in stepping up his team. Although he suffered ups and downs after finishing his first 11 consecutive games, he continued his streak of nine consecutive games without allowing any points. Through the first five months of his career, he had a record of 21 wins, one loss, five holds and an ERA of 1.61 (24 ⅓ innings), 23 strikeouts, 15 walks, and 1.25 WHIP (allowed to get on base per inning).
However, the momentum did not continue to the end. In the first four games in June, he failed to catch even a single out count and was given a strikeout in 0 innings. Since then, Kim has not been able to clearly step up his step-up. Even after starting the perfect season last year, he only had two wins and one loss with eight holds and an ERA of 6,44 in 50 games.
In 103 games, he had eight wins and 12 losses and a 6.37 ERA in 16 holds. Kim Jin-wook was given a considerable number of opportunities, but it was hard to say that either side clearly received the opportunity. It was difficult to grasp the exact capability of his players in the starting pitcher and bullpen session.
Kim Jin-wook is now receiving another chance as a starter. Prior to the game on March 5, he took the mound as a bullpen in the game against NC Dinos on March 26, allowing no runs on two walks and four strikeouts in three innings. On Kim Jin-wook’s future utilization plan, manager Kim Tae-hyung said, “First of all, I think the starting pitcher is more suitable for you. You have to go up as a middle pitcher and watch the game against one or two batters, but your ball control should not be shaken from there.””I think the starter is more suitable for him because he can cope with the next batter,” he explained.
Kim Jin-wook played in everything from finishing camp to spring camp and exhibition games, but he failed to make the roster of the first team in the end. He thought he had progressed slowly, but in the end, he failed to reach the absolute standard. Everyone acknowledges and has high expectations for Kim’s talent. The answer is also out.
Manager Kim Tae-hyung, pitching coach Joo Hyung-kwang, and senior pitchers all make the same order. “You don’t have to be perfect. You have to show how you can fight off batters simply. You don’t have to try to throw a better ball, a more perfect ball. I hope you have time.” Everyone demands and stresses the need to let go of anxiety and throw the ball boldly and simply.
Will Kim be able to provide a turning point to overcome the past and move toward a brighter future? Will Kim, who was frustrated all the time, be able to take a leap forward by receiving the opportunity again.