April Release from Camp → Direct Return to First Division → 5.14 ERA Struggles: Why LG’s Kim Yun-sik Was Shaken "I had confidence in the ball, but my body didn’t follow." [Interview]

*This content was translated by AI.

LG Twins left-hander Kim Yun-sik (26), who returned to the first-division mound after two years, has not performed as expected. Although he was immediately deployed in actual competition right after being released from camp on April 21, his 18-game ERA of 5.14 has yet to meet expectations.

However, Kim Yun-sik also harbored unspeakable frustration. Meeting with StarNews at Busan Sajik Baseball Stadium recently, Kim recalled, "My goal upon joining was to avoid overexertion and stay continuously with the first division this year. But from the second game onward, I kept finding myself in tight situations, and I found myself unconsciously developing a stronger desire to perform better."

Kim Yun-sik is a left-handed pitcher who joined LG as the third overall pick in the second round of the 2020 KBO Rookie Draft. He gained first-division experience from his debut year and contributed to LG’s Korean Series championship victory, their first in 29 years, in 2023 with 17 games, 6 wins, 4 losses, and a 4.22 ERA.

Given this background, expectations for his return after two years of military service were high. In the first month after his return, he posted a 2.63 ERA in May, delivering performances that met expectations. However, according to the player himself, anxiety was still present even then. Kim stated, "Actually, even when I was performing well, my balance was not good. I didn’t feel like anything was clicking. Still, since the results were coming out well, I made adjustments but didn’t worry too much about it."

That anxiety erupted during his starts. LG manager Yeom Kyung-yeop (58), grappling with continued concerns over the five starting pitchers, employed a 1+1 strategy using both Kim Yun-sik and Jang Hyun-sik (31). However, Kim failed to meet expectations: on June 5 against Changwon NC, he pitched 2/3 innings, allowing 1 hit, 5 walks, and 3 earned runs; on June 11 against Jamsil SSG, he pitched 2 1/3 innings, allowing 2 hits, 3 walks, 1 strikeout, and 1 earned run.

Kim Yun-sik revealed his honest feelings: "That poor performance erupted when I started. I didn’t worry much about the NC game, but by the time the SSG game came, I started overthinking and felt frustrated. I felt like I might go crazy." He added, "As I kept falling into negative thoughts, those around me made me feel more at ease. Seniors told me, 'You didn’t even attend camp, yet just being in the first division now is already a good thing.'"

Certainly, the two-year gap in actual competition was a significant handicap. Kim admitted, "Honestly, I prepared diligently ahead of my return season and had confidence in myself. But my body didn’t follow my expectations. I always had confidence in the ball, yet my body didn’t keep up with my mind and thoughts, which was extremely frustrating."

The frustration he had endured also erupted on the mound. Kim reflected, "I think the NC game was the first time since my debut that I screamed in anger on the mound. I’ve always struggled against NC (career 13 games, 7.56 ERA), but that day, the ball simply wouldn’t go where I wanted. My velocity and pitch quality were actually the best of the year that day, but my control was off. The same was true for the SSG game. Those two games were the most difficult days of my baseball career."

Fortunately, despite the struggles, the coaches and seniors who continued to believe in him became a great source of strength. Judging by June statistics alone, the results were still disappointing. Kim finished with a 9.82 ERA over 8 games in June. However, for Kim, each appearance became a process of reconfirming his broken balance.

Kim expressed gratitude: "When I started and didn’t perform well, the manager told me not to overthink. He said that overthinking would complicate things in baseball and instructed me to simply set a target and pitch. I am grateful that they continued to trust and utilize me."

He further stated, "As I’ve thrown more, I feel my sense of balance is returning quickly. I’ve already given up on the idea of starting. For now, I believe it’s much better to continue pitching from the bullpen. My arm is fine, so I want to throw a lot and find my rhythm soon."

While manager Yeom Kyung-yeop provided psychological support through opportunities and encouragement, the veterans and coaches offered technical assistance. Kim said, "I had frustration regarding my pitching form, so I kept asking infielder Kim Kwang-sam and other veteran players whether there were any differences compared to when I performed well in the past."

Outfielders Oh Ji-hwan (36) and Park Hae-min (36) pointed out issues with his kicking motion. First-division pitching coach Kim Kwang-sam (46) and first-division bullpen coach Jang Jin-yong (40) identified problems with his balance and changeup. Kim stated, "I am continuously receiving feedback from coaches Kim Kwang-sam and Jang Jin-yong. Although the Doosan game (June 21) was the correct one, the ball itself felt the best since my return. Since then, facing Samsung and Lotte, I’ve felt things gradually improving."

He added, "One reason I’ve found it difficult to face batters is the changeup. Because my changeup wasn’t working, I had no choice but to rely on sliders and curveballs against right-handed hitters. When I started, my changeup was completely ineffective. I need to regain my original changeup as quickly as possible."

He is also aware of the frustration LG fans have felt toward him. That is why he aims to respond not with excuses but with recovery. Kim, "When I first joined, I had no rhythm at all. I thought it would take one or two months, but it turned out to take longer than expected. I realized again that returning is not easy."

He further declared, "My priority is to stay healthy and play full time. To remain in the first division, I must become a player who contributes to the team. Since I am currently at the bottom, I believe all that remains is to climb back up."

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*This content was translated by AI.