Will 'Fire Park Jun-young' replace Jung Woo-ju and make another appeal as a starter? NC to deploy Toda [Changwon Field]

*This content was translated by AI.

The first game of the series was cancelled due to rain, making the 27th matchup even more critical. Instead of Jung Woo-ju (20), who had to switch to the bullpen and felt the high wall, Hanwha Eagles will send out 'Fire' Park Jun-young (24), who secured his first career victory in his debut game from the start.

The fourth game of the season between NC Dinos and Hanwha Eagles, which began at 6:30 p.m. on the 26th at Changwon NC Park, was ultimately called off as a no-game due to heavy rain just before the top of the third inning.

The result left a deep sense of regret for Hanwha, which had started the first inning with a pleasant run to take a 1-0 lead. The opportunity to build momentum with a three-game winning streak was lost. For NC, which had just escaped a five-game losing streak and returned home, the outcome allowed them to let out a sigh of relief.

Both starting pitchers, NC's Curtis Taylor and Hanwha's Wilkel Hernandez, had already pitched two innings each and could not participate in the 27th game. With the series changing from a three-game set to a two-game set, the 27th game became even more important. Hanwha had originally planned for Jung Woo-ju to take the turn.

However, Jung Woo-ju was removed from the starting rotation. To fill the gap, Manager Kim Kyung-moon gave Jung Woo-ju, who had struggled in the bullpen unlike the previous year, a chance, but he failed to capitalize on the three promised opportunities. In three games, he allowed seven earned runs over nine innings and issued seven walks. In the game against Lotte Giants on the 21st, he surrendered two home runs, gave up four runs, and took the loss.

Ultimately, the decision was made to return Jung Woo-ju to his original role as a relief pitcher. Park Jun-young was selected to take his place. Park Jun-young, who had been overlooked in three consecutive rookie drafts, gained recognition among baseball fans as a member of the baseball variety program 'Bulkkot Baseball' before joining Hanwha as a development player after passing a test last year. There is also another pitcher named Park Jun-young (23) who joined in 2023, so fans often refer to him as 'Fire Jun-young', 'Fire Jun', or 'College-grad Jun-young'. Even among teammates, there was a need to clarify the nicknames. The senior and younger Park Jun-young once stated, "I am called the second Jun-young, as designated by senior Ryu Hyun-jin."

In the Futures League, he pitched 28 innings over seven games, posting an impressive 4-0 record with an ERA of 1.29. His batting average against was a mere 0.186.

After being called up to the first division on the 10th, he started against LG Twins, pitching five scoreless innings with three hits allowed, three walks, and two strikeouts. With support from the lineup, he capped off his debut with a victory. It was the first time in professional baseball history that a player who started as a development player won in his debut game.

However, he later appeared as a relief pitcher in both the game against KT Wiz on the 17th and the game against Lotte Giants on the 21st. He pitched two-thirds of an inning in the KT game and one and one-third innings in the Lotte game, allowing one earned run in each.

Coincidentally, in his debut game where he pitched more innings, he delivered a scoreless performance. Simply put, this result suggests that he is better suited as a starter. Park Jun-young now has another chance to earn Manager Kim Kyung-moon's approval with another strong start.

NC will field Asian quota pitcher Natsuki Toda (26). Although he posted an unsatisfactory record of 2-5 with an ERA of 4.54 in eight games this season, he has shown strong performances in his last two games, allowing only two earned runs (one self-earned) over 11 and two-thirds innings, raising expectations.

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*This content was translated by AI.