Changeup learned from Ryu Hyun-jin, Lotte Master also recognizes..."Some of them looked good"

Changeup learned from Ryu Hyun-jin, Lotte Master also recognizes..."Some of them looked good"

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Lotte Giants left-hander Young-gun Kim Jin-wook recorded a record of 4-3 with a 5.31 ERA in 84 ⅔ innings in 19 games in the 2024 season. He experienced his first practical "full-time" since joining the pro league in 2021, playing the most innings.온라인카지노

Kim Jin-wook's 2024 season was definitely significant, although he failed to meet his reputation as an amateur player who was called an "elementary, high school-level pitcher." He underwent intensive training at the spring camp, with chances are high he will continue to serve as the team's fourth starting pitcher in the 2025 season.

While preparing for the 2025 season, Kim Jin-wook carefully curated his new weapon change-up. He made a cold judgment that it is not easy to grow further without adding more pitches.

Kim Jin-wook plucked up his courage to prepare for changeup. He visited his senior Ryu ahead of a game against the Hanwha Eagles in September last year. Although he was not close to Ryu except for exchanging greetings from baseball stadiums, he plucked up courage in front of Ryu, who was 15 years older than him.
Ryu Hyun-jin also praised Kim Jin-wook's courage, although it was unexpected that Kim Jin-wook came to see him. It wasn't a long time, but he told me the grip and know-how of his changeup.

Ryu's changeup is considered one of the best breaking balls in the history of the KBO League. Ryu's changeup was recognized as a "luxury game model" in the U.S. Major League Baseball as well.

Ryu Hyun-jin met with on-site reporters after training ahead of Game 5 of the 2025 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO exhibition game against the Lotte Giants at Sajik Baseball Stadium in Busan on the 14th, saying, "I was surprised that Kim Jin-wook came to me," and laughed, "I felt good when a player I didn't know came and asked me about the change-up."

First of all, Kim Jin-wook showed perfect pitching in an exhibition game against the LG Twins on the 10th, with one hit and one strikeout and five strikeouts in four innings. Although it was an exhibition game, both ball control and control were more stable than last year.
In addition, Kim Jin-wook's new change-up skills this year have also been effectively achieved. It is too early to make a quick decision, but preparations for the regular season seem to be going more smoothly than last year.

Lotte manager Kim Tae-hyung has also given a "passing point" to Kim Jin-wook's change-up completeness so far. He did not throw many balls, but he said he was good enough.

Before the exhibition game against Hanwha on the 14th, head coach Kim Tae-hyung said, "Some of the changeups thrown by Kim Jin-wook (in the game against LG) went in okay."

In order for Lotte to challenge for the fall baseball in the 2025 season, its main pitchers should perform well. While the batting lineup underwent constitutional improvement and generational change last year due to the explosion of young promising players including Yoon Dong-hee, Na Seung-yeop, Ko Seung-min, Hwang Seong-bin and Son Ho-young, none of the pitchers showed clear growth.

If Kim Jin-wook, who is now in his fifth year, breaks the shell of a promising player, Lotte's bid to compete in the semifinals will be easier. Depending on what kind of pitching Kim Jin-wook gives, it is highly likely to have a big impact on Lotte's game in the first half of the year.

For Lotte, the first to third starters, which will be Charlie Barnes, Tucker Davidson and Park Se-woong, are considered relatively solid. The key to the performance of the 2025 season is the 4th to 5th starters, which will be supported by Kim Jin-wook, Na Kyun-an and Park Jin.