Foreign pitchers who wanted to increase the number of pitches... I didn't know if I'd hit it well or not. A formidable lineup that even the head coach didn't predict

Mar 23, 2025

The 2025 KBO League Media Day was held at the Lotte Hotel World Crystal Ballroom in Jamsil, Seoul on the 20th. Samsung Kang Min-ho, Park Jin-man, and Koo Ja-wook pose at Media Day. Jamsil = Song Jeong-heon Reporter's songs@sportschosun.com/2025.03.20/

Samsung manager Park Jin-man expressed surprise at the strength of the active lineup from the opening game.

Samsung scored 13 points with 18 hits in the opening game against Kiwoom at Lions Park in Daegu on the 22nd, winning a 13-5 victory.

Kim Ji-chan and Lee Jae-hyun, the table setter, scored six points, and Koo Ja-wook, Kang Min-ho, Diaz and Park Byung-ho, the center hitter, combined for 10 RBIs. Ryu Ji-hyuk, Kim Young-woong, and Kim Heon-gon's sub-base hitters also combined for three RBIs. It was a perfect division of roles.

Kiwoom ace Kenny Rosenberg was replaced early with eight hits and eight runs in three innings, taking the lead.

In two exhibition games, the new left-handed foreign pitcher showed stability with three runs (two earned runs) and a 2.00 ERA in nine innings. It is analyzed that it will not be easy to attack because the ball control and fastball rotation are good, and there are various breaking balls such as change-up sliders.

Coach Park Jin-man said ahead of the Kiwoom match on the 23rd, `I think I prepared well in the hitting part. It was our strategy to increase the number of pitches and send them down quickly because Rosenberg pitcher was good during the exhibition game. But he hit it so well. Honestly, I didn't expect it to go down early because I hit it well.' He then praised the batters, saying, `I planned to increase the number of pitches as much as possible, send them down quickly, and attack the bullpen, but I think the game was easily run from the beginning because I prepared so well.' Immediately after the game the previous day, coach Park said "Batters have prepared well for the opening. He did a good job, regardless of the top, center, and bottom," he once said.

What's the big explosion of the opening lineup?He gave me a present. By saving the bullpen, it became possible to make an all-out bullpen match against Kiwoom on the 23rd.

Manager Park Jin-man continued to score a lot at the beginning, making it a little easier to run the pitcher. Since it is a day off tomorrow (24th), and the bullpen must-win group has not been thrown, today, depending on the situation of the game, starting player Baek Jung-hyun can be replaced at a fast tempo and the bullpen can be put in early"The strategy was revealed.

On the 23rd, Samsung's Baek Jung-hyun will face Kiwoom's Ha Young-min as a starter.

Photo courtesy = Samsung Lions

This article was translated by Naver AI translator.