The selection competition starts now?
KIA Tigers sidearm Lim Ki-yeong (30) was a starting pitcher and had thick bones. Since his debut, he has appeared in 122 games only as a starting pitcher and earned 36 wins (50 losses) in 649⅓ innings. He has exceeded 100 innings for six consecutive years since the 2017 season when he started in earnest.
In the 2021 season, when Ace Yang Hyeon-jong was absent due to entering the United States, he played an active role as a native ace, throwing up to 153 innings. He has solid standing as a 5 starter, but his start for the 2023 season was in the bullpen. Youngcheol Yoon, a special rookie, took the starting position.
Instead, Lim Ki-young was in charge of long relief. Stand behind the starting pitcher. If the selection is sluggish, it is immediately dispatched. He has a lot of starting experience and can digest up to 3 innings. That’s why it often goes behind Eui-ri Lee, who can’t handle many innings because of poor control.
This year’s performance was 4 runs in 8⅓ innings in 5 games, and an average ERA of 4.32. He took 1 hold instead of the starting win. In the match against Doosan on the 8th, Lee Eui-ri was beaten in 3 innings, and he followed up with 3 innings, serving as a stepping stone for a valuable come-from-behind victory.
On the 19th, Sajik Lotte played on the mound two days in a row following the previous day (1 inning scoreless hold). On this day, the selection was Lee Eui-ri. He took the mound in the sixth inning with a 5-0 lead and blocked Lotte’s pursuit in the middle with 1 hit and 1 walk scoreless pitching in 1⅓ innings. He helped break a five-game losing streak. He had excellent stability in making the game without letting go of the flow.
Head coach Kim Jong-guk and coach Jung Myeong-won selected rookie Yoon Young-cheol as the 5th starter in the spring camp practice game and demonstration game competition. Rather than Lim Ki-young’s experience, I expected Yoon Young-cheol’s ambition and potential. In his debut match on the 15th (Kiwoom Gocheok match), Yoon Young-chul was shaken by giving 5 runs only in the first inning. He couldn’t overcome the pressure of his debut match.
Lim Ki-young would not have felt comfortable when he was given the starting position. Nevertheless, he accepted it as a choice for his team and is quietly doing his part. He is also a leader group who leads the mound with Yang Hyeon-jong and Lee Jun-young and pitchers in their 30s in the pitching group. With the team’s poor performance in the early stages, it is an important time for veterans’ dedication.
It can be seen that Lim Ki-young’s experience broke his team’s losing streak. He also emphasized that the selection competition is just beginning. Director Kim said,토토사이트 “I will give Yoon Young-cheol a chance at the beginning of the season.” After the beginning, it seems that there will be another evaluation. Lim Ki-young may return to his place again.