'Eight wins, undefeated' also luck? Samsung's top starter in the second half shows humility: "Great defense at crucial moments → Just thinking about pitching longer"

*This content was translated by AI.

Samsung Lions pitcher Yang Chang-seop (27) has shown his best form since debut while remaining grateful to teammates and humble. Despite achieving an incredible record of eight wins without a loss in the 2026 season, surpassing his previous seven-win mark from the 2018 season, he downplayed his achievement by attributing it to luck.

On the 16th, Yang Chang-seop started against Lotte Giants at Daegu Samsung Lions Park in a home game of the '2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League', pitching five innings with six hits allowed (one home run), six strikeouts, three walks, and one earned run. His strong performance secured his eighth win of the season.

According to the Samsung team, Yang Chang-seop reached a top velocity of 151 km/h on this day after throwing 90 pitches. He mixed four-seam fastballs, sliders, two-seam fastballs, changeups, and sweepers to outmaneuver opposing batters. It appeared he relied heavily on the sweeper for key pitches.

With this performance, Yang Chang-seop continued his remarkable undefeated streak of eight wins in the current season while also setting a new personal record for most wins in a single season, surpassing his previous best. Additionally, his ERA dropped from 4.26 to 4.07, bringing him within striking distance of entering the 3rd-point range.

Despite facing pressure as he went head-to-head with an overseas starting pitcher (Alvin Rodriguez), Yang Chang-seop remained mentally strong. He stated, "When stepping onto the mound, I focused not on who the opponent was but solely on competing against each batter one by one, aiming to resolve each at-bat quickly."

Having achieved his career-high in wins for a single season, Yang Chang-seop expressed satisfaction with his velocity and pitch quality despite returning after a long absence. However, he credited the fielders entirely for his success. He specifically highlighted Kim Sung-yoon's home run catch and Diaz's defensive play that followed after predicting Hwang Seong-bin's attempt to score from third base in the fifth inning as decisive moments. "At the time of Kim Sung-yoon's home run catch, I assumed he would be safe at home plate and was covering third base, so I didn't even see the throw itself. It was thanks to great defensive plays at crucial moments," recalled Yang Chang-seop. After the game, he reportedly thanked Kim Sung-yoon directly for his contribution.

When asked about the secret behind his eight wins without a single loss this season, Yang Chang-seop humbly replied, "It's 100% just luck." Compared to last season, he noted the biggest change was that instead of trying to throw perfect pitches and struggling, he focused on quickly securing strikes and engaging in direct confrontations without avoiding batters.

He also openly admitted concerns about his ability to pitch deeper into games. Yang Chang-seop said, "My coach often teases me, asking why I only pitch five innings every time I take the mound. Still, my goal with each appearance is to reliably cover at least five innings. If given the chance, I want to pitch more innings and fulfill my role as a starting pitcher." He added, "This season, I'll continue gaining experience calmly so that next season, the team can trust me with more innings."

Finally, Yang Chang-seop shared his heartfelt thoughts: "From the first half of the season onward, I've had consistent opportunities to start and play regularly. Honestly, I really wanted to attend the All-Star Game, but as a manager's recommendation player, I got to participate. Rotating consistently in the starting lineup has been a truly valuable experience. I'm not sure about the secret to my strong performances; it might just be luck. Now, I wish I could pitch two more innings."

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*This content was translated by AI.