I got "a whopping 9" candidates, why do I desperately want "Keon Changmo"... "You can go back and forth two steps in the ranking"

*This content was translated by AI.

The NC Dinos will prepare as many as nine starting pitcher candidates. Above all, however, Koo Chang-mo (29)'s performance is the key point.

Lee Ho-joon (50), NC coach, recently mentioned Koo Chang-mo and said, "If Geon Chang-mo (healthy Koo Chang-mo) wins 14 or 15 games, the ranking can go back and forth by two levels."

Last year, Koo Chang-mo took the mound in four regular-season games, with a 2.51 ERA with one win and no loss, 18 strikeouts and three walks in 14 ⅓ innings, a 0.250 hit rate and a 1.19 on-base allowance per inning (WHIP).

Koo Chang-mo, who first came to the first team against the Changwon KIA Tigers on September 7, learned the feeling by playing three innings each in the first two games. After that, he scored four runs in four ⅓ innings against the Changwon LG Twins on September 24, and in the match against the Changwon KT Wiz on the 30th of the same month, he appeared in relief and led the team to victory in important games with nine strikeouts and no runs in four innings.

Koo Chang-mo's performance continued in fall baseball as well. In the first game of the wild card game with the Samsung Lions, he became the winning pitcher with five hits (one home run), three strikeouts, and one run in six innings. Although NC ended its journey by losing the second game, Koo Chang-mo was able to see hope.

It was especially meaningful in that he came back after shaking off the injury. He was almost blown away in 2024 after joining the Sangmu baseball team due to a fractured left arm ulnar surgery, and his return was delayed last year due to an early hit. Even after being discharged from the military in June, he had difficulties taking the mound due to symptoms of elbow clumping. Still, after returning, he continued pitching without any problems.

Koo Chang-mo returned from injury, but his eyes were already on the path to the 2026 season. In an interview with Star News in September last year, he said, "The most important thing is next year (2026) season. We will finish this year well and prepare well for next year's camp," he said.

In particular, from NC's point of view, where the native starters were about to collapse, there should be Koo Chang-mo. Currently, there are no players to trust except Shin Min-hyuk, and even Shin Min-hyuk showed ups and downs. In this situation, if only health is guaranteed, Koo Chang-mo is a player who is close to a constant.

Coach Lee Ho-joon said, "These days, I heard it's Geonchangmo, but it's good if Changmo is good." He has already set up a management plan for Koo Chang-mo, reflecting the player's own intentions. "While talking to Chang-mo, he made the data that there is a high probability of injury after 40 innings, and that he will get injured in 80 innings," manager Lee said. "I was thinking about the timing to rest, but I said it myself."

This year, after consulting with pitching coach Kim Kyung-tae, Lee announced that he would prepare nine candidates for starting pitchers, including foreign pitchers. Many players are waiting like this, but in the end, only when Koo Chang-mo does well will NC's starting lineup be strong.

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*This content was translated by AI.