I'm not satisfied with 'eight-colored foreigners', SSG Veniziano "I need to learn more, next time I'll be better." [the scene of Incheon]

*This content was translated by AI.

SSG Landers' new foreign pitcher Anthony Beniziano (29) pitched a pitch that foreboding a successful soft landing. It was not a game that could give 100 points, but considering that it was his KBO League debut, he pitched well to announce a good start.

Beniziano started the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League home game against the Kiwoom Heroes at SSG Landers Field in Incheon on the 31st and threw 86 pitches in five ⅓ innings, allowing six hits, one walk, three strikeouts, and two runs.

Beniziano turned the ball over with one out in the top of the sixth inning when his team was being dragged 1-2, but he did not record victory or defeat by immediately turning the tables in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Beniziano, who joined the NC Dinos as a temporary substitute, was urgently brought in a total of $850,000 (about 1.283 billion won) because he failed to pass the medical test, was selected by the Kansas City Royals in the 10th round of the 2019 MLB Rookie Draft.

At first, he caused anxiety by allowing four runs in three ⅓ innings in the exhibition game, but he regained stability by allowing four scoreless innings in the second game and one run in five innings in the last inspection.

The first inning ended with three outs, but after hitting a hit by Lim Ji-yeol in the second inning and throwing a wild pitch, Eo Jun-seo also gave a hit and allowed one run, and after walking Kim Gun-hee with hits by leadoff batters Choi Jae-young and An Chi-hong in the third inning, he allowed an additional run when hitting a ground ball.

However, he finished the inning with three outs in the fourth inning and no major crisis in the fifth inning. Beniziano, who also took the mound in the sixth inning, got a hit by the leadoff hitter Lee Ju-hyung, and later handed the ball over to Lee Ro-woon with one out and second base due to Lim Ji-yeol's sacrifice bunt.

Lee Rowoon finished the top of the sixth inning lightly, followed by Guillermo Herredia and Choi Jeong's consecutive hits in the bottom of the sixth inning, and Kim Jae-hwan's sacrifice fly tied the game, and Choi Jung took advantage of the opponent's error to dig home and turn the tables. In the seventh inning, SSG continued its pleasant three-game winning streak by adding six runs, including Kim Jae-hwan's three-run home run.

Beniziano used a variety of pitches with 19 four-seam fastballs with a maximum speed of 153km/h, 18 with a maximum speed of 150km/h, 21 sweeper, 15 change-up and 13 sliders. In particular, the sweeper, which rapidly escaped to the outside of the left-handed batter, was impressive. It was a satisfactory achievement considering that many pitchers who newly stepped on Korean soil fell below expectations in the first game.

As for Veniziano, he said, "I didn't win, but I got off to a good start. "(I) Ro-woon, who came out, also stopped the crisis well, and (Kim) Min also showed good pitching and solidified the must-win group," he said.

After the game, Beniziano said, "It was a really enjoyable experience. "I was able to throw more motivated thanks to the fans' enthusiastic support," he said. "I prepared my body perfectly in time for the opening game, but I felt that there was more to learn than to be satisfied with today's pitch. In the next game, I want to show you a better performance than today," he said.

68% (59/86) rushed aggressively enough to be recorded as strikes. "It was effective to try to pitch as aggressively as possible as I discussed with the power analysis team," Veniziano said. "I don't mind the hit, but it's a pity that I couldn't get a count and strike out more, and that I couldn't make a lead situation." Still, it's good that the team won because the batters gave up a lot of points and the bullpen completely blocked them," he said.

Although he did not take the victory, it was also a game where he could experience the power of SSG's proud bullpen. "Our team has a really good bullpen," Veniziano said. I'm really grateful and reassured as a starter because the pitchers behind me do more than 120% every time, he said. "I think I can throw my ball more confidently on the mound because of that belief."

As he has completed his KBO League debut satisfactorily, he is aiming for his first win with a more perfect pitch next time. "I really want to record a quality start (QS) that I couldn't do today in the next game," he said. I will do my best to contribute to the team's victory with consistent pitching as I did today in Sunday's game," he said.

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*This content was translated by AI.