"I'm refreshed after I went to the second division."
LG Twins manager Yeom Kyung-yeop was confident of the revival of right-hander Choi Won-tae 26, who was recruited as a "winner." Choi Won-tae returned to the match against the Hanwha Eagles in Jamsil on the 24th and pitched well with six hits one homer and one walk, eight strikeouts and one run in seven innings, earning his ninth win 6 losses of the season.
It was after a while of endless slump. Choi Won-tae had only one win and two losses, 26 ⅔ innings, and an ERA of 10.13 in six games from August 10th, just before spending time adjusting in the second division. During this period, the hit rate reached 0.390 and the POPS reached 0.955. WHIP number of on-base hits allowed per inning was also very high at 2.18. As the below-expected pitch was repeated, manager Yeom had no choice but to notify Choi Won-tae of his move to the second division at a time when it was urgent to solidify his lead.
Although it announced its revival in the return match, it did not prove that LG was a bleeding choice to give prospects Lee Joo-hyung 22 and Kim Dong-kyu 19 the first round of the 2024 Rookie Draft when they brought Choi Won-tae in a trade with Kiwoom Heroes in July. Choi Won-tae recorded three wins and two losses, 39 ⅔ innings, and an ERA of 7.03 in eight games after moving to LG. There were only two quality starts.
Coach Yeom again expected Choi Won-tae, who readjusted in the second division. "I took a break and went to the second division to adjust the height of my arm. There are still a lot of things missing in the change-up feeling, but when I struck out with a very low ball, I saw that I practiced a lot of change-ups. "We have also increased the proportion of fastballs," he said, confident that Choi Won-tae will be able to continue to draw an upward curve for the rest of the season.
LG has reduced its magic number to six. As of the 29th, the season's performance is 80 wins, 49 losses, and two draws, with eight games against the second-ranked kt Wiz and nine games against the third-ranked NC Dinos. With 13 games left for LG, 10 for KT, and 15 for NC, it is not easy to close the gap. If LG adds one win step by step, there is a high possibility that it will confirm the top spot without any unexpected changes and prepare for the Korean Series.
Coach Yeom said it is true that Choi Won-tae announced the revival, but he will wait and see whether he will be included in the starting rotation of the Korean Series. "Either Choi Won-tae or Lee Jung-yong will probably fall into the middle. Since Jung-yong has experience as an intermediate pitcher. I have more thoughts of using Jung-yong, but I will keep watching the start. The selection is more important. We will see who is more stable among Won-tae or Jung-yong, he said.
"In fact, Won-tae has more experience in postseason selection, and Jung-yong has much more experience in postseason than in selection. I can't ignore that either. Jung-yong is very interested in the bullpen, but I will wait until the end and listen to the coaches' opinions comprehensively before making a decision, he added.
Lee Jung-yong, who had been on a roll with seven wins this year, took his second loss of the season as he collapsed with nine hits and seven runs in three ⅓ innings against the Samsung Lions in Jamsil on the 28th. Coincidentally, it was right after manager Yeom declared that he would consider it with Choi Won-tae as a candidate for the fall baseball selection. With Lee Jung-yong bowing down at the test, will Choi Won-tae be able to enter the Korean Series starting rotation by continuing his good pitching like a return match.
Considering the effort LG put into trading with Kiwoom, it is right for Choi Won-tae to completely revive and take a place in the Korean Series selection. Only then can LG's self-esteem as a winner be protected. 스포츠토토
