LG Twins’ ‘light speed sidearm’ Jung Woo-young fired a signal to escape the sluggish situation.
Jung Woo-young took the mound following starting pitcher Casey Kelly in the top of the 8th inning, where LG led 3-1 in a home game against the Hanwha Eagles in the 2023 professional baseball KBO League held at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul on the 19th.
Jung Woo-young, who was nominated by LG in the second round (15 overall) in the 2019 rookie draft, is a right-handed sidearm pitcher whose two-seam at the end of a fast and messy ball is considered his strength. In his debut season, he received the Rookie of the Year award, and in the 2022 season, he won 35 holds and became the Hold King. His career record until last year was 17 wins, 16 losses, 8 saves, 98 holds, and an ERA of 2.94 in 258 appearances (263.1 innings).
Jung Woo-young of LG, who fell into a slump this year, prepared an opportunity to rebound at the Hanwha Match in Jamsil on the 19th. Photo (Jamsil, Seoul) = Reporter Kim Yeong-gu
Jung Woo-young, who was also active as a member of the Korean national baseball team at the 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC) held in March in recognition of these performances. However, he fell into a deep slump this season. Before this match against Hanwha, his performance was 4 losses, 6 holds, and an ERA of 5.52 in 18 games메이저놀이터 (14.2 innings). In particular, his on-base percentage per inning (WHIP) reached 1.36.
However, Jung Woo-young blocked the Hanwha lineup well that day and prepared a foothold for a rebound. He struck out after four pitches against lead batter Noh Si-hwan. Afterwards, he got a heavy hit from the follow-up hitter Chae Eun-seong, but took a breather by treating Kim In-hwan as a shortstop grounder.
Jung Woo-young, who was not shaken, then turned even Lee Jin-young into a looking strikeout after a 6-ball game. It was only 21 days since the Jamsil KIA Tigers match (3-4 LG loss) on the 28th of last month, and it was the moment to harvest his 7th hold.
In particular, what is more encouraging about Jung Woo-young’s pitching on this day is that the tip of the two-seamer’s ball came to life. This part stood out when dealing with Roh Si-hwan, who was the first hitter.
Jung Woo-young also said in a broadcast interview after the game, “I wanted to catch (Roh) Si-hwan with my main weapon, two-seam. He keeps throwing breaking balls these days, but I wanted to overcome them with my main weapon,” he said. I’m ahead of the opponent, but I wanted to catch it with a two-seam because I’m a good hitter in the league, and the result was good,” he smiled.
“Life didn’t go as well as I had hoped. Baseball didn’t go the way I thought and the way I tried. Baseball wasn’t easy,” said Jung Woo-young, who looked back on the difficult times. During this period, LG members are said to have given him a lot of helping hands.
Jung Woo-young said, “I am grateful to pitching coach Kim Gwang-sam. He suffered the most. His older brothers are also grateful,” he said. ‘It seems that you came up too quickly than others. Let’s think about taking a break for a tempo and go up again slowly.” I am most grateful to them,” he bowed his head.
Along with Jung Woo-young, Lee Jeong-yong, who was in the previous winning group (before the game on the 20th, 2 wins, 3 saves, 1 hold, ERA 5.40), was also sluggish this year, and LG coach Yeom Gyeong-yeop, Yoo Young-chan (4 holds, ERA 3.98), Park Myeong-geun (2 saves, 4 holds, ERA average) 3.24), etc., to establish a ‘second victory group’ and seek a breakthrough. Both players are doing their part to some extent. If even Jung Woo-young regains his power, LG can gain wings.
Will Jung Woo-young succeed in rebounding and lead LG, which is in second place, to a higher place with a record of 25 wins and 14 losses as of the pre-game on the 20th? He said, “I will find (a good form) within this month. (Yeom Kyung-yeop) I believe that if the director continues to use him, he will come back.”