Why the must-win bullpen, which was brought in two nomination tickets for 1 billion won, went down without holding an outcount
Mar 24, 2025
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Cho Sang-woo, acquired by the KIA Tigers through a trade ahead of this season, is a key resource. Jang Hyun-sik, who won last year, left the team when he signed an FA contract with the LG Twins, and KIA needed to draw as much as possible to prevent the leakage of power.
The replacement is Cho Sang-woo. Cho Sang-woo, who joined the Heroes as the No. 1 overall rookie in the first round in 2013, has been consistently mentioned as a player with a potential to trade over the past two years. In particular, Cho Sang-woo's trade deal received tremendous attention last year to the extent that he even used the expression 'Trade Large Sale' throughout the first half of the year, but it was eventually canceled. Cho Sang-woo also ended the season early due to a shoulder injury and ended the season with regret.
And KIA in the offseason moved. The Heroes and Cho Sang-woo trade was finally completed. KIA gave up 1 billion won in cash and the first and fourth rounds of the 2026 rookie draft to get Cho Sang-woo. Although he did not immediately give up a player with power, it was a trade that allowed the Heroes to get the future of the team they wanted the most, and from KIA's point of view, they got a player who could maintain the power of the championship.
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However, his first regular season appearance as a KIA uniform was a bit disappointing. Manager Lee Bum-ho chose Kwak Do-kyu as his second pitcher when starter James Nail went down after five scoreless innings in the regular season opener against the NC Dinos in Gwangju on the 22nd.
It was a choice to catch the opponent's left-handed hitters, but after one out, Cho Sang-woo was shaken by hits and walks. It was Cho Sang-woo's first appearance in the regular season.
However, Jo Sang-woo did not appear to be controlling the control on this day. He eventually allowed a walk as the ball continued to go in against Matt Davidson, the first batter, and the crisis got bigger with the bases loaded with one out. The next batter, Park Gun-woo, also allowed a two-run timely double that almost became a home run on a high ball.
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Cho Sang-woo, who has yet to show heavy and overbearing pitching as in the past. However, head coach Lee Bum-ho said that the burden would have been large depending on the situation. Director Lee said, `I'm sorry to put you in such a situation. It was my first game, but I posted it in an important situation. After that experience, the team came from behind to win, so I think it will get better and better in the next game"I would have wanted to show you a good performance in front of many fans, and the tension of the game was so high. I think that's a big part of it."
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
