ERA 40.50 What's wrong with this, I desperately need to revive the national left-hander...Even if I get hit, I need to get a strike
May 25, 2025
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KIA Tigers left-hander Choi Ji-min (22) is having a particularly difficult season this year. The ball control problem, which was the cause of the ups and downs last year, has worsened this year. Choi Ji-min eventually spent 10 days reorganizing in the second division from the 12th to the 21st, with only 1-1 losses, one ⅓ inning and an ERA of 40.50 in the two games he threw after returning to the first division.
Not only KIA but also Choi Ji-min himself must be frustrated. He came back after supplementing his own in the second division, but he still doesn't get strikes when it's important.
Choi Ji-min was beaten by Kim Young-woong with a two-run shot against the Daegu Samsung Lions on the 23rd, his first appearance, but he became a winning pitcher with a 7-6 victory. He seemed to have caught some of the problems by giving up two hits without four outs, which was the most problematic.
KIA manager Lee Bum-ho said, `It's more important for Jimin to put in a lot of strikes than to get hit. In the case of yesterday (23rd), I got hit, but the ball speed and the control. The ball went into a fairly good course, but Kim Young-woong hit it well. It's a bit of a reverse ball, but it's very important for Jimin to catch a strike. Even if you get hit like that, if you catch a strike well, I think you'll definitely be able to pitch a little better in the future on that pitch. After going to Futures once, he said, "I think I realized a little bit that I can throw strikes, so I think it would be good to keep looking forward to it in the future."
Choi Ji-min took the mound as a relief pitcher for the fourth time in the bottom of the eighth inning against Daegu Samsung on the 24th. It was a close game, but KIA continued to be chased by Samsung. Choi Ji-min, who took the mound under much more pressure than the game on the 23rd, failed to boldly score a strike unlike the previous day. ⅓Inning one hit, three walks, one strikeout, and four runs, he took the loss. KIA lost 4-8 and fell to eighth place.
Choi Ji-min started off nervously by walking leadoff hitter Diaz. Samsung put more pressure on Choi Ji-min by replacing Diaz with Shim Jae-hoon. Here, the Samsung bench's intention to draw one point for sure was read. Choi Ji-min seemed to overcome the crisis by striking out Kim Young-woong, who allowed a home run the previous day.
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After being overturned to 4-5, KIA raised its rookie Sung Young-tak this year. Sung Young-tak called in all three of Choi Ji-min's responsible runners as he had a walk to Yang Yang-geun and a timely two-run double to left by Kim Sung-yoon.
Choi Ji-min is a rising star who graduated from Gangneung High School and joined KIA in the fifth place overall in the second round of 2022. In 2023, his second year as a professional, he became a must-win team and recorded 58 games, six wins, three saves, 12 holds, 59 ⅓ innings, and an ERA of 2.12. He seemed to be establishing himself as a left-handed must-win team for the national team representing KIA by wearing the national flag. Last year, it was high with an ERA of 5.09, but he continued his presence by helping KIA win the integrated championship and joining the team of the '2024 Premier 12' after the season.
KIA needs Choi Ji-min again this year. Kwak Do-gyu, who helped greatly by growing rapidly as a left-handed must-win group last year, ended the season early as he underwent elbow surgery. Choi Ji-min is spending the beginning of the season full of disappointment with only 2-1 losses, 4 holds, 15 ⅓ innings and an ERA of 7.63 in 22 games of the season. The number of walks per 9 innings reached 11.25, and the WHIP (on-base Huh Yong-soo per inning) is also very high at 2.28. He is having a difficult season on his own, keeping opposing batters on base for free.
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This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
