Kang Min-ho also marvels at the ABS: "He uses every corner of the ABS perfectly, and his quick motion is excellent. He just needs to be told who the fast runner is."

*This content was translated by AI.

"His control was far better than I expected. He is clearly a pitcher who truly understands baseball."

Even Kang Min-ho (41), known as a 'veteran catcher' who has spent an incredible 23rd season solely in the KBO League, expressed admiration for the perfect pitching of Chris Fedek (30), a new Samsung Lions foreign pitcher from Major League Baseball (MLB).

On the 18th, Samsung secured a decisive 5-0 victory over the Lotte Giants in a home game at Daegu Samsung Lions Park during the '2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League', extending their winning streak to three games and further solidifying their position at the top of the standings.

The undisputed hero of the day's victory was Fedek, who made his KBO League debut as a newly signed foreign pitcher. Over six innings, Fedek allowed just one hit and one walk while striking out seven batters with dominant scoreless pitching to earn his first win. Of the 85th pitches he threw, his fastest reached 152 km/h. He recorded an impressive seven strikeouts using a variety of breaking balls including curveballs, two-seam fastballs, cutters, forkballs, and changeups.

Kang Min-ho, who caught Fedek's pitches as the starting catcher that day, wore a broad smile throughout. After the game, when they met, Kang Min-ho showed no hesitation in expressing his satisfaction with their first collaboration.

In particular, Kang Min-ho was impressed by Fedek's smart use of the automatic ball-strike system (ABS). "Fedek knows how to handle the ABS," he said, nodding. "Seeing him throw precisely to every corner made me think, 'Indeed, this is a great pitcher.'" Even for a veteran catcher who has worked with countless foreign pitchers over the years, Fedek stood out as one of the best. Kang Min-ho added, "He may have only pitched one game, but he clearly showed his presence," giving a thumbs-up.

Fedek's main weapons that day were his cutter and changeup. Kang Min-ho explained, "He threw those two pitches precisely where he wanted them. Just by throwing those pitches alone, I felt we could easily get opposing batters out, so I led accordingly, and he followed well." He was especially impressed by the movement and timing battle of the changeup, which worked effectively against both right-handed and left-handed hitters. "It didn't feel like he just threw the ball to make it a strike; rather, it felt like he knew exactly what he was doing," Kang Min-ho remarked, praising Fedek as "a pitcher who truly understands baseball."

There was also an interesting behind-the-scenes story. Before the game, Fedek approached Kang Min-ho and said, "You've played many games in this league, so I'd like to trust you completely today," leaving all the calling of pitches to him. Kang Min-ho responded, "Thanks to that, it was very easy for me to call pitches. Plus, since his pitching is so good, it was comfortable even from the catcher's perspective."

His ability to handle runners on base was also outstanding. When a runner reached first base, Fedek used an extremely fast quick motion to prevent any stolen bases. Kang Min-ho shared, "Fedek told me he has three types of quick motions depending on the situation. He said if I just signal whether the runner is fast or slow with my fingers, he'll handle the timing battle himself," expressing his confidence in Fedek's capabilities.

Initially, I thought he was a pitcher who relied solely on powerful velocity based on his MLB experience, but after catching him, I realized he is a versatile pitcher who also possesses the skills of a crafty pitcher with excellent control. Kang Min-ho concluded, "His velocity is good, but what stands out is his excellent command of speed and changeups that are well-suited for success in the KBO League. He also manages counts very effectively." He expressed full confidence in Fedek's smooth integration into the KBO League.

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.