When Woo Kang-hoon's name came out, 'Trade luck' Yang-ryang lowered his body, "Thanks to coach Kim Kwang-sam and Choi Sang-deok → You prepared me well."

*This content was translated by AI.

LG Twins' "Bulpen Side Arm Pitcher" Woo Kang-hoon (24) is emerging as a "hit product" that shakes the KBO League in the early 2026 season. With his near-perfect pitching in three consecutive games, Yeom Kyung-yup, 58, the LG manager, lowered himself by turning the ball of this incredible sensation to his pitching coaches. Kim Kwang-sam (46), a first-team pitching coach, and Choi Sang-deok (55), a second-team pitching general coach, were pointed at.

Coach Yeom Kyung-yeop mentioned Woo Kang-hoon's remarkable growth in a meeting with reporters ahead of the away game against the Kiwoom Heroes of the "2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League" at Gocheok Sky Dome on the 3rd.

Coach Yeom said, "There is a basic, systematic coaching manual within the team," and added, "Based on that manual, pitching coach Kim Kwang-sam really passionately helped Woo Kang-hoon train." "I didn't take (Woo Kang-hoon) to the first-team camp, but coach Choi Sang-deok also prepared so well," he said with a smile.

Coach Yeom then said, "In the end, it is the coaches who actually increase the skills of the players through training on the field. Please praise our coaches a lot, not me," he said, expressing strong trust and affection for the coaching staff.

Woo Kang-hoon's status in the team this season is truly a "transfection." After joining Lotte Giants as the 41st overall pick in the fifth round of the 2021 rookie draft from Yatap High School, he had a long hiatus after undergoing elbow surgery and active enlistment right after the nomination. Even after returning to the 2023 season, he took the mound three times in the first-team game for Lotte, but left a normal record with an ERA of 6.00 without winning or losing. Eventually, he wore an LG uniform through a trade in March 2024.

Woo Kang-hoon, who did not show much presence until the 2024 and 2025 seasons, showed unusual performances from the exhibition games of this season. He joined the opening entry with a scoreless run in four of the five exhibition games, and continues to pitch "perfect" in three innings, not allowing any hits and walks in three games even after the opening of the regular season.

In particular, Woo Kang-hoon also showed a fastball with a maximum speed of 154 kilometers per hour in the match against KIA in Jamsil on the 1st. In the top of the eighth inning, when he showed a close 2-1 lead against KIA in Jamsil on the 2nd, he made a complete inning against the central lineup leading to Castro, Kim Do-young and Na Sung-beom. Woo Kang-hoon's maximum speed of 152 km was also recorded on Tuesday. The average speed of the fastball is around 150 kilometers.

As Woo Kang-hoon soared splendidly, the "Trade of Destiny," which was carried out at the time, is also being talked about again. At the time of the trade, LG gave up infielder Son Ho-young (32) to Lotte and conducted a one-on-one trade to bring in Woo Kang-hoon. In fact, Lotte laughed first. Soon after the transfer, Son Ho-young, who took over Lotte's main third baseman position, grew to the core of the lineup and earned the nickname "trade fortune" from fans. From LG's point of view, it took some time, but it is evaluated as a "win-win trade" in which both teams laugh as Woo Kang-hoon, who exploded his potential, joined the team.

Woo Kang-hoon, who played two consecutive games against KIA in Jamsil on the 1st and 2nd, took a sweet break against Kiwoom in Gocheok on the 3rd. Fans are paying attention to whether he will be able to continue his "perfect" march on the mound at Gocheok Dome as he, who has accumulated his physical strength, waits normally again from the game on the 4th.

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*This content was translated by AI.