'Like Lotte's Kim Jin-wook, KIA's Lee Ui-ri, and Hanwha's Kim Seo-hyun': SSG also sends players to study in Japan, aiming to "build first-division roster for second half of season + foster promising talents"

*This content was translated by AI.

SSG Landers is also following the recent trend by offering opportunities for promising pitchers with high potential to study in Japan.

From the 28th until August 10, a two-week period, SSG will dispatch four promising pitchers (Choi Yong-jun, Lee Jun-ki, Kim Do-hyun, and Byun Geon-woo) along with two coaching staff members to Japan's "NEXT BASE ATHLETES LAB."

Next Base is a sports science-based training facility located in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. It functions as an institutional investor that provides customized training directions by precisely analyzing each player's pitching mechanics and physical data.

This dispatch, conceived by Choo Shin-soo, the club chairman's aide (also overseeing development), is part of the initiative to introduce advanced overseas sports science systems. It was organized to early on build the first-division roster for the second half of the season and foster the growth of future promising talents.

This year alone, several teams have actively utilized this institutional investor. Lotte Giants' Kim Jin-wook, who corrected his pitching form and increased his velocity at Next Base before the season, has emerged as a "Sajik Scuba" after pitching 104⅓ innings in 18 games this season with a record of 5 wins and 5 losses and an ERA of 3.19.

KIA Tigers' Lee Ui-ri is also showing improvement after spending about three weeks at Next Base last month. Initially a starting pitcher, Lee struggled through May with 1 win and 6 losses in 10 games and an ERA of 9.42 before departing for studies at Next Base.

After returning to Korea, Lee has been assigned the unfamiliar role of a relief pitcher but has delivered stable performances in four games, recording 1 win over 6⅔ innings with an ERA of 2.70. Notably, his walks per nine innings, which had reached 8.4, have noticeably decreased. In his most recent four games, he allowed only one walk, demonstrating improvement in his control, previously considered his weakest point.

Next was Hanwha Eagles' Kim Seo-hyun. Last year, he recorded 33 saves as Hanwha's closer, but this season he faced severe control issues. Despite being sent to the minor league twice, his condition did not improve easily, so he eventually went to Japan for about three weeks of training. Although he has yet to confirm results in actual games, reports indicate that slight adjustments to his pitching form have improved his control.

However, SSG's approach differs somewhat. While the other three teams sent their pitchers for immediate correction and utilization due to their significant roles within the team, SSG is looking further ahead. Except for Kim Do-hyun (selected in the second round of the 2022 draft), all are lower-pick players. A common trait is their limited first-division experience. This includes Byun Geon-woo, who was selected with the 110th pick—the last in the 11th round—of the 2024 rookie draft, underwent elbow surgery, and completed his military service as an active-duty soldier. Although there is much to refine, he is a highly anticipated prospect known for throwing fastballs reaching speeds of up to 153 km/h and was selected for the Futures League All-Star game.

SSG selected its dispatch candidates by comprehensively considering their potential to become first-division assets and their growth potential. The group includes various types of players, from power pitchers with velocities around 150 km/h to promising starters and relievers with stable game management skills. Given the short-term nature of the program, the focus is on identifying each player's core tasks and securing practical feedback that can be immediately applied to field training upon their return.

SSG plans to share local analysis data in real time with its coaching staff to consistently maintain individual improvement directions for each player. The club also intends to continue utilizing this data during future closing camps and off-season preparation processes.

Choo Shin-soo, the aide and head of development, stated, "We decided on this dispatch as a club-level investment to strengthen the first-division pitcher depth for the second half of the season and cultivate future assets." He added, "We expect the players and coaching staff to thoroughly engage with the advanced biomechanics program and grow one step further into core assets that can immediately contribute to the team at the first-division level."

Meanwhile, SSG plans to expand its collaboration possibilities with overseas professional training institutional investors through this dispatch and work toward internalizing related know-how.

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*This content was translated by AI.