*This content was translated by AI.
"There is a great role model, and even young players should learn from him."
Despite undergoing four surgeries and playing in the United States, Ryu Hyun-jin (39, Hanwha Eagles) continues to display his formidable presence, achieving his 200th career victory as the second Korean pitcher in history. Kim Kyung-moon (68), Hanwha's manager, expressed hope that young pitchers would gain insight by observing Ryu Hyun-jin.
On the 26th, ahead of Hanwha Eagles' away game against the NC Dinos at Changwon NC Park in the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League, manager Kim Kyung-moon met with reporters and discussed the moment of Ryu Hyun-jin's 200th win on the 24th.
Manager Kim stated, "When a major record is delayed once or twice, unexpected pressure builds up. It seems it was well achieved on the second attempt at home. The 8th and 9th innings were tense, weren't they? That time felt incredibly long. Achieving 200 wins is no easy feat. It's a record built amidst numerous surgeries, so just imagine how remarkable it is."
With Hanwha leading 5-2, closer Park Sang-won inadvertently created a bases-loaded, no-out crisis with three consecutive hits, but he successfully navigated the danger to secure a thrilling victory. Manager Kim approached Ryu Hyun-jin and shared a hug. He smiled, saying, "Even though I am a manager, it is an honor to witness such a major record together. I think this is the first time I've hugged him since Beijing."
He hoped that young pitchers would learn much by observing Ryu Hyun-jin. This season, the KBO League has been struggling with an unusually high number of walks, and among them, Hanwha has allowed 222 walks, ranking first in the league for most walks given up.
Manager Kim remarked, "I understand that young players are all attending academies to increase their ball speed, but does just having high velocity make a pitcher? If control is lacking and strikes aren't landing, that is a serious issue to consider."
In the past, Ryu Hyun-jin threw pitches reaching speeds of up to 150 km/h and utilized sharp breaking balls. Now, approaching his 40s, he holds his own even with mid-140s fastballs. While he has added more pitch types to compensate for reduced velocity, the foundation remains aggressive pitching based on impeccable control.
His ERA is 3.42, ranking 8th in the league, yet he has allowed only 8 walks. His WHIP (walks plus hits per inning pitched) stands at 1.04, ranking 2nd. This highlights how boldly and effectively he pitches without issuing walks.
Manager Kim pointed out, "There is a senior player who serves as a great role model. Regardless of how young the players are, they must learn from him. A pitcher must throw strikes and demonstrate control and command. They are called professional pitchers, yet how can they claim to be pros if they are constantly throwing balls?"
He continued, "First, they must master control. Only then can they engage in battles with batters and effectively mix strikes. Without needing to discuss other teams, our own team has a senior player who serves as a major role model for our young players. Even if they are young, they need to reflect on this. They should not be throwing harder just to gain 1, 2, or 3 km/h in speed."
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*This content was translated by AI.
