SSG Kim Gwang-hyun, selected for the opening game of professional baseball in 4 years… Confrontation with KIA Anderson
SSG Landers’ eternal ace Kim Gwang-hyun (34), who threw the last ball of the 2022 KBO League, scatters the first ball of the 2023 KBO League.
Kim Gwang-hyun will start the regular league opening match against professional baseball KIA Tigers at SSG Landers Field in Incheon on the 1st of next month.
SSG coach Kim Won-hyung announced Kim Gwang-hyun as the opening match starter at the 2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO regular season media day held at Grand Hyatt Seoul in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul on the 30th.
It is the first time in four years since 2019, just before entering the American Professional Baseball Major League (MLB), that Kim Gwang-hyun is starting the opening game.
Director Kim Won-hyung explained, “Kim Kwang-hyun is a Korean ace who doesn’t need a modifier.”
Kim Gwang-hyun returned to the KBO League last year after playing for the MLB St. Louis Cardinals in 2020 and 2021 and showed off his rust-free skills by fighting hard with a 2.13 ERA of 13 wins and 3 losses.
However, the selection for the opening game last year was foreign pitcher Wilmer Font.
In fact, Kim Gwang-hyun struggled every opening match of the regular season.
In 2014, when he was SK Wyverns, he started as a starter for the first opening game of his life and became a losing pitcher with 5 hits and 4 runs (3 ERA) in 5 innings against Nexen Heroes (currently Kiwoom). wore the yoke of
In 2019, he withdrew without winning or losing with 8 hits and 4 runs in 6 innings against kt.
Kim Gwang-hyun plans to throw the ball vigorously to break the ‘jinx’ in the fourth opening match.
The opposing team, the KIA Tigers, announced a new foreign pitcher, Sean Anderson (28).
KIA coach Kim Jong-guk said, “I chose Anderson because his condition is the best among the five starting pitchers.”
Anderson is an ace recruited by KIA after filling the annual salary limit of 1 million dollars for new foreign players.
In the opening match between Hanwha Eagles and Kiwoom Heroes at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, a confrontation between native and foreign players will be held.
Kiwoom entrusted Ace Ahn Woo-jin (23) with the heavy responsibility of starting the opening game for two consecutive years.
In the opening game against the Lotte Giants last year, An Woo-jin scored 5 hits, 2 walks, 7 strikeouts and 2 runs in 6 innings.
Kiwoom coach Hong Won-ki said, “Ahn Woo-jin is the best pitcher in Korea,” and “I chose him because he is a player who enjoys playing big games.”
Against this, the Hanwha Eagles, the ‘Exhibition Match’, put forward a new foreign pitcher, Birch Smith (32).
Smith is an ace with an average ERA of 1.42 in three demonstration games this year.
Hanwha coach Carlos Subero said, “I have traditionally insisted on a domestic pitcher, but this year I decided on Smith, who showed the best performance in spring camp.”
Both players are fireballers who throw fastballs in the mid-150 km/h range and have good strikeout abilities. Attention is also drawn to the strikeout match between Ahn Woo-jin and Smith.
In other stadiums, all foreign players start.
The Doosan Bears announced the starter Raul Alcantara (30), the 2020 season winner who returned after two years to the opening match against the Lotte Giants at Jamsil Stadium. Lotte put up its ace Dan Strayley (34).
kt predicted Wes Benjamin (29) before the LG Twins match to be held at KT Wiz Park in Suwon. LG faced off with its ace, Casey Kelly (33).
kt coach Lee Kang-cheol said, “I chose Benjamin to beat LG,” and LG coach Yeom Gyeong-yeop replied, “I chose to beat kt.”
At Daegu Samsung Lions Park, NC Dinos’ new foreign pitcher Eric Peddy (30) and Samsung Lions David Buchanan (33) will play. 메이저사이트
Samsung coach Park Jin-man said, “Buchanan knows Korean baseball well, and he prepared well for what he lacked last season.”
NC coach Kang In-kwon said, “Peddy has accumulated a lot of experience in the big leagues and his skills are good.”