KIA's "Doni-sal," NC's "Engu-haeng"! Chu Chang-mo's earnest wish: "I will stay until the end without disappearing"

*This content was translated by AI.

In 2024, when KIA Tigers' Kim Do-young (23) was performing exceptionally well, the term "Doni-sal" became widely popular. It is a shortened form of "Do-young, you must live your sweat."

NC Dinos has "Engu-haeng." It means "NC is happy thanks to Chu Chang-mo." Searching portal site news in chronological order reveals that "Engu-haeng" began appearing around 2020, predating "Doni-sal."

To Dinos fans, Chu Chang-mo (29) is such a player. Drafted as the third overall pick in the second round of the 2015 rookie draft, he drew significant attention and expectations from the start of his career. However, unfortunately, due to frequent injuries, he has never once met the required innings (144) over the past 11 years. This has only deepened fans' sympathy and affection for him.

This year is different. He has started the season normally and is demonstrating the power of a "healthy Chu Chang-mo."

The same was true for the visit game against Kiwoom Heroes held at Seoul Gocheok Sky Dome on the 23rd. Until the day before, the team had been in a severe slump with only two wins and 11 losses in their last 13 games.

However, the expression on Lee Ho-jun (50), NC's manager, was not particularly gloomy when he met the team before the game. He said, "The team's morale has not collapsed. The players are trying to come together even more." He added, "If (Chu) Chang-mo pitches and wins today, it would be very hopeful," expressing his expectations for the ace's starting appearance.

He did not betray the manager's trust. Chu Chang-mo held the line for six innings, allowing four hits, striking out three, and giving up only one run, saving the team from a losing streak. Of his 86 pitches, he threw 57 fastballs (66.3%), competing with confidence. His maximum velocity reached 145 km/h.

Thanks to the ace's strong pitching, the batters also stepped up. The NC lineup, which had managed only 11 runs in their recent six games, including a shutout loss the day before, exploded with 15 hits to secure a decisive 12-2 victory.

Chu Chang-mo has appeared in five games this season, recording three wins with no losses. Over 28 1/3 innings, he has allowed eight runs, with an ERA of 2.54. His win total ranks tied for second, and his ERA ranks ninth.

After the 2022 season, he signed a non-free agent multi-year contract worth up to 13.2 billion won for six plus one years, prioritizing "team happiness" over personal gain. Following the victory, Chu Chang-mo stated through the club, "I focused on every preparation process with the single thought of ending the losing streak before the game." He continued, "From the first inning, the lineup scored runs, allowing me to compete aggressively on the mound. Especially thanks to (catcher) Kim Hyung-jun's lead, we were able to run the game with good tempo. I believe this victory was not created by the pitcher alone but was a win created by the team through both defense and offense," passing the credit to his teammates.

"Engu-haeng" is not only an earnest wish for NC fans but also for Chu Chang-mo himself. In an interview with a broadcasting company before the game that day, he said this:

"If I do not leave and stay until the end of the season, I think Engu-haeng could be realized. I have been with the team since the early part of the season, and I will prepare diligently so that I can stay with the fans until the end without disappearing."

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*This content was translated by AI.