One of the reasons the Doosan Bears brought catcher Yang Eui-ji (36) back is to stabilize the mound.
Even if pitching-related indicators do not immediately improve, Yang Eui-ji has already succeeded in capturing the hearts of pitchers.
Choi Won-joon (29) is one of the Doosan pitchers who realized why everyone picks Yang Eui-ji as the best catcher.
Choi Won-jun started against Kiwoom Heroes held at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on the 16th and belatedly won his first victory of the season with 1 run in 6 innings.
Although victory did not follow with 1 win and 3 losses in 7 games this season, Choi Won-joon, who plays his part in 5 quality starts (within 3 earned runs over 6 innings starting) said, “I felt a lot why (Yang) Eui-ji was the best catcher when he came.” Even if the pitcher is not good, he blames himself, thinks a lot for the team, and takes the lead in comforting his juniors.”
Choi Won-jun, who joined Doosan in 2017, debuted as a bullpen pitcher in the first team in 2018.
Since he usually appeared at the end of the game when the game tilted to one side, there were not many opportunities to match the will of the main catcher.
Yang Eui-ji, who hit the fourth home run of the season on Choi Won-joon’s starting day
[Courtesy of Doosan Bears. Resale and DB prohibited]
Yang Eui-ji moved to NC Dinos in 2019, and Choi Won-joon, who took off as a domestic starting ace of Doosan since then, reunited with Yang Eui-ji after 5 years this year.
Choi Won-joon says that thanks to Yang Eui-ji’s bold lead this season, he is able to play long innings.
If a right-handed sidearm pitcher wants to pitch long innings as a starting pitcher, he must have a weapon against left-handed batters.
Until last year, Choi used fastballs and sliders as his main pitches against left-handed batters and threw changeups intermittently, but this year he reduced the proportion of changeups and increased sliders.
A slider that cuts into the body of a left-handed hitter is a powerful weapon if used properly, but it always comes with the risk of a hitter.
However, Choi Won-joon said, “I increased the slider for left-handed hitters as advised by (Yang) Ui-ji, and it worked well. Thanks to that, the number of pitches also decreased.” Throwing according to the sign gives good results. I really rely on it,” he laughed.
In the match against Kiwoom that day카지노사이트, I had a heartbreaking moment after not throwing as Yang Eui-ji’s signature.
Yang Eui-ji, the best catcher in the KBO league
[Courtesy of Doosan Bears. Resale and DB prohibited]
Yang Eui-ji asked for a slider against Kim Hui-jip in the 6th inning with 2 outs and bases loaded 2-1, but Choi Won-joon chose a fastball.
Kim Hui-jib’s batted ball flew toward the center fielder, and center fielder Sue-bin stepped back and jumped to catch it.
Choi Won-joon, who was almost hit by a come-from-behind hit, swept his heart out, saying, “I wasn’t confident in my ball because a few sliders came out earlier. So I threw a fastball. If that hit, I think I would have blamed myself for everything.”
Yang Eui-ji also plays the role of a ‘psychological coach’ who comforts Choi Won-joon’s mind.
Choi Won-joon introduced, “Even though the content of the game at the beginning of the season was good, it was not a pitch I liked, but after Ji-hyung said, ‘What is there, throw it with confidence.
When Choi Won-jun seldom won a victory despite throwing well, Yang Eui-ji went into the game with a more earnest heart than the pitcher himself, to the extent that he changed the color of his tosh and mitt every game.
Because of Yang Eui-ji who gave him such strength, Choi Won-joon laughed, saying, “Thanks to Eui-ji, who bought me a lot of food and said a lot of good things (even if I didn’t win), it wasn’t too difficult.”