ERA 8.07, from the youngest to the core of the national team! Lotte's Kim Jin-wook, moved by the Taeguk mark: "Excitement outweighs nervousness" [Jamsil on-site]

*This content was translated by AI.

Lotte Giants left-hander Kim Jin-wook (24) expressed his emotional reaction to earning the Taeguk mark for the first time in five years.

Ahead of the Seoul Jamsil LG game on the 12th, Kim Jin-wook told StarNews, "I watched it on YouTube with (Park) Jun-woo just before heading out for practice. I was nervous before my name was called, but once it was, the tension completely disappeared." He added, "I felt like I had done well so far, but I also started thinking about what I need to do to deliver even better performances in the remaining part of the season."

On the previous day, the 11th, Manager Ryu Ji-hyun (55), KBO Jeon Ryeok-gang-hwa (Chairman) Cho Gye-hyun (62), and KBSA Game Performance Improvement Committee member Cha Myung-joo (53) officially announced the final roster for the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games Korean national baseball team.

From Lotte, Kim Jin-wook, right-hander Choi Jun-yong (25), and outfielder Yoon Dong-hee (23) were selected. This is Kim Jin-wook's second Taeguk mark. Due to the pandemic, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics held in 2021 were his first experience.

Kim Jin-wook was recognized for his potential to throw pitches reaching speeds up to 150 km/h during his time at Gangneung High School and was drafted as the first overall pick in the second round of the 2021 KBO Rookie Draft. In his debut year, Kim posted an ERA of 8.07 and did not achieve strong results, but he was selected for the Futures League team to nurture future talent.

At that time, the national team finished in fourth place and returned home with regret. Kim Jin-wook also endured a difficult five years. Struggling with inconsistent control and pitching mechanics each year, his career ERA in the first division reached 6.40 by last year.

Reflecting on five years ago, Kim Jin-wook said, "Back then, I went without any particular thoughts. Unlike then, this time I feel I am receiving a proper evaluation and being selected for the national team, so excitement outweighs nervousness. Of course, I am worried, but I believe that if I continue to perform well as I have done so far, good results will follow," he stated with determination.

In fact, expectations have changed significantly compared to five years ago. Manager Ryu Ji-hyun focused more on batting by selecting 11 pitchers and 13 position players for the Lee Beon (CEO) team. This decision was based on the calculation that since the main competitors are Japan and Taiwan, fewer pitchers would be needed.

As a result, the pitching staff was carefully selected with reliable and steady players. Kim Jin-wook is widely regarded as fully deserving of a spot. This year, he has delivered stable performances with 12 games, 3 wins, 3 losses, an ERA of 3.20, 70⅓ innings, and 54 strikeouts.

Kim Jin-wook reflected, "In games, there are always moments when things go poorly. In the past, I often struggled to recover from those bad outcomes. Now, instead of dwelling on the result, I focus on being careful and giving my best with each next pitch."

He continued, "By doing so, I can move past those thoughts. In a way, this is what I can do best right now, so I am concentrating even more on this aspect."

Kim Jin-wook is one of only three left-handed pitchers among the 11th top-tier pitchers selected. He is also classified as a reliable starting pitcher. Unlike Oh Won-seok (25, KT Wiz) and Bae Chan-seung (20, Samsung Lions), who have extensive bullpen experience, Kim is seen as an ace capable of taking full responsibility for a game. Especially, like past left-handed aces, he is expected to shine in matches against Japan, which are guaranteed in the semifinals or beyond.

Kim Jin-wook smiled and said, "I've heard that left-handers are often used in games against Japan. If I get the opportunity, I will pitch with all my effort. If I continue to pitch with full dedication to each ball like I am doing now, I believe good results will follow."

As one of the league's top prospects, Kim has faced many ups and downs. While his teammates gradually made their way to the national team, Kim Jin-wook remained undeterred thanks to Lotte Giants and those who never gave up on him. After the interview, as he was heading back to the locker room, he unexpectedly met Park Hae-min, who encouraged him by saying, "(Kim) Jin-wook, congratulations on making the national team."

Kim Jin-wook expressed gratitude, saying, "I received many congratulations upon hearing the news of my selection. Even our team players and many others have been cheering for me, which made me realize once again how many people are supporting me."

He added, "In fact, I am more focused on our team and my next game than the national team. Rather than trying to do something better, I will continue to prepare and maintain my current mindset to aim for the Asian Games championship."

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*This content was translated by AI.