"I will become an increasingly formidable player." With a well-deserved sole lead in wins, the manager is confident. [Suwon Field]

*This content was translated by AI.

"He will become an increasingly formidable player."

SSG Landers manager Lee Sung-yong (55) expressed high expectations for starting pitcher Kim Geon-woo (24, SSG), who currently holds the sole lead in wins.

Speaking to reporters ahead of the match against KT Wiz at Suwon KT Wiz Park on the 13th, Manager Lee said, "Kim Geon-woo has started well, building his confidence, and he is proving that our judgment was correct. As a manager, I am proud of that."

Left-handed pitcher Kim Geon-woo, who joined the team via the first round of the 2021 rookie draft, began this season as the team's second starting pitcher. Manager Lee Sung-yong took a bold step by entrusting him with a major role, despite the pitcher having played only 43 games with 5 wins, 5 losses, and 2 saves since his debut, during which he served in the military (Army Baseball Team) and underwent elbow surgery.

The results have exceeded expectations. Kim Geon-woo secured a victory in the match against KT the previous day (12th), pitching 5 innings and allowing only 1 earned run. He has now extended his streak to five consecutive wins without a loss in eight games this season. He holds the sole lead in wins among both domestic and foreign pitchers. He has already accumulated more wins in this season than he did in the previous five years combined.

This is not merely due to good fortune. His ERA stands at 3.51 (41 innings, 16 earned runs), ranking 13th overall and 6th among domestic pitchers. His WHIP (walks plus hits per inning pitched) is 1.27, ranking 12th in the league and 6th among domestic pitchers, while his batting average against is 0.224, placing him 6th overall. Notably, in the eight games Kim Geon-woo has started this season, SSG has won seven of them, with the only loss coming in the April 11 match against LG Twins.

There was a reason for Manager Lee Sung-yong's confidence in heavily relying on Kim Geon-woo. He explained, "I felt we had to create a starting pitcher who has completed his military service, and (Kim) Geon-woo was the most suitable candidate. After seeing his performance in the final stretch of last year's regular season and during the postseason, I decided he must be given a starting spot. I even considered using him as the number one starter, but after consulting with pitching coach Kyung-heon Ho, we decided to start him as the second starter."

Kim Geon-woo recorded 5 wins and 4 losses with an ERA of 3.82 in 35 games (13 starts) during last year's regular season. He then started in the second game of the semi-playoffs against Samsung, pitching 3⅓ innings and allowing 2 earned runs. He surrendered only three hits, issued no walks or hit-by-pitches, and recorded seven strikeouts. In particular, he left a strong impression by setting a record for the most consecutive batters struck out in a semi-playoff history, with six straight strikeouts.

Manager Lee Sung-yong expressed his belief, stating, "The opportunity was given by the manager, but the current performance is due to his own hard work. He is preparing almost perfectly. If he stays healthy and continues to gain experience, I believe he will become an increasingly formidable player."

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.