The Samsung Lions of the Korean Baseball Organization have turned a weakness into a strength.
Last year, Samsung suffered the most upset losses (38) among the 10 teams and ranked last in bullpen ERA (5.16). To bolster its bullpen, the team acquired Kim Jae-yoon and Lim Chang-min in free agency and added Choi Sung-hoon and Yang Hoon through the second round of the draft.
Samsung is currently ranked first in the league in bullpen ERA (1.65). The bullpen’s performance in the home game against Lotte at Samsung Lions Park in Daegu on April 15 was another highlight.
Behind left-hander Lee Seung-hyun (two innings, five hits (two homers), one walk, four strikeouts, and two runs), Choi Ha-neul (three innings), Jang Pil-joon (two innings), Yang Hyun (⅓ inning), Lee Jae-ik (⅔ inning), and Kim Tae-hoon (one inning) combined for seven scoreless innings in a 3-2 victory.
In the pitching staff, Jang Pil-joon (4 innings), 안전놀이터 Kim Tae-hoon (2⅔ innings), Lee Jae-ik (2 innings), and Yang Hyun (1⅓ innings) have combined for three consecutive scoreless games. Left-handers Choi Sung-hoon and Lee Sang-min have also done their jobs without allowing an earned run in two straight games.
Oh Seung-hwan and Kim Jae-yoon, who are battling for the closer’s job this season, made their first appearance side-by-side against Lotte in Daegu on Sept. 14 and both pitched a clean first inning.
Seung-hwan Oh struck first.
Taking the mound to a rousing ovation from the crowd, the “end-plate captain” struck out Jang Doo-seong (fly to left field), Jeon Jun-woo (fly to right field), and Noh Jin-hyeok (grounder to first base) in seven pitches.
In the eighth inning, Kim Jae-yoon took over. He struck out the first batter, Kang Tae-ryul, on a swinging strikeout and retired Kim Min-seong and Na Seung-yeop on fly balls to the outfield.
Manager Park Jin-man said, “Oh Seung-hwan has much better command of his fastball. Kim Jae-yoon had power and stability on his pitches. It’s an exhibition game, but it’s his first start after the transfer, so he must be under pressure, but he’s definitely experienced and pitched well. Oh Seung-hwan and Kim Jae-yoon are competing for the closer’s spot in good faith,” he said.
Park Jin-man, 바카라사이트 who struggled to manage his pitching staff last year, is in a happy dilemma thanks to the abundance of resources.
“Last year, it was easy to organize the pitching roster, but this year it is difficult. This is because the pitching staff is definitely stronger than last year. We are checking the condition of the pitchers through exhibition games. We are happily thinking about the pitching staff composition than last year.”
Samsung has turned its weaknesses into strengths. It will be interesting to see if they will succeed in rebuilding their reputation with a solid pitching staff.