* Translated by AI

Starnews

'With' buildup completed, An Woo-jin delivers 158 km/h thunder! Completes 5 innings for the first time in 975 days → Allows only 1 run despite an error, even without issuing a walk

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Park Sujin

*This content was translated by AI.

An Woo-jin makes his second-day start. /Photo=Kiwoom Heroes
An Woo-jin makes his second-day start. /Photo=Kiwoom Heroes
An Woo-jin. /Photo=Kiwoom Heroes
An Woo-jin. /Photo=Kiwoom Heroes

An Woo-jin (27), who has been hailed as the ace of the KBO League's "top-tier" teams after leaving Kiwoom Heroes, showcased his consistent pitching prowess in his first game apart from Bae Dong-hyun (28), minimizing runs allowed. He displayed an incredible performance right from his first outing after completing his buildup.

On the 2nd, An Woo-jin started against the Doosan Bears in the '2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League' match held at Gocheok Sky Dome in Guro-gu, Seoul, recording 5 innings, 3 hits allowed, 5 strikeouts, and 2 runs allowed (1 earned run).

The early part of the game was a solo performance by An Woo-jin. In the top of the 1st inning, he retired Park Chan-ho with a second baseman's grounder, Cameron with a first baseman's grounder, and Park Jun-soon with a strikeout, starting with a clean three-up, three-down. In the top of the 2nd, he allowed a center-field hit to leadoff batter Yang Eui-ji but managed the crisis by getting Kim Min-seok on a grounder, An Jae-seok on a first baseman's fly ball, and Yang Seok-hwan with back-to-back swinging strikeouts. He added stability in the 3rd by retiring Oh Myung-jin, Jung Soobin, and Park Chan-ho all on fly balls.

An Woo-jin, who was cruising, was hampered by a defensive error in the top of the 4th. A grounder to the second baseman by leadoff batter Cameron resulted in an error by An Chi-hong, and he then allowed a left-field hit to follow-up batter Park Jun-soon, putting him in a bases-empty, 1st and 2nd base situation. Ultimately, he surrendered a two-run, go-ahead hit to the left-center field by Yang Eui-ji.

However, the true value of the ace was revealed after allowing the run. In a situation where he could have easily lost momentum, An Woo-jin changed the atmosphere by striking out Kim Min-seok. He then retired An Jae-seok with a called strikeout and Yang Seok-hwan with another strikeout, closing the inning without allowing any additional runs.

In the 5th, An Woo-jin retired Oh Myung-jin with a first baseman's grounder, Jung Soobin with a pitcher's grounder, and Park Chan-ho with a second baseman's grounder, respectively, completing his 5 innings.

With this performance, An Woo-jin completed 5 innings in a single game for the first time in 975 days since the August 31, 2023 match against SSG at Munhak Stadium. At that time, An Woo-jin threw 80 pitches, recording 6 innings, 5 hits allowed, 3 strikeouts, and 1 run allowed. An Woo-jin handed the mound to Park Jeong-hoon at the start of the 6th inning and finished the game.

An Woo-jin's outstanding performance. /Photo=Kiwoom Heroes
An Woo-jin's outstanding performance. /Photo=Kiwoom Heroes

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*This content was translated by AI.

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