'First-half QS 10 times → Already 6 times in second half' SSG's mound undergoes a complete transformation, 'ERA 1.50' Avila's butterfly effect

*This content was translated by AI.

It is astonishing. It seems unbelievable. The SSG Landers, who endured a miserable first half, have completely changed in the second half.

In 12 games during the second half, SSG has recorded 6 wins, 5 losses, and 1 tie, maintaining a winning percentage above .500. What is noteworthy is that all six wins were secured by starting pitchers.

For SSG, which finished third last year, one word to describe them was 'collapse of the starting rotation.' In the first half's 86 games, SSG's starters recorded 14 wins (33 losses), pitched 388⅔ innings, posted an ERA of 6.28, and achieved only 10 Quality Starts (QS·starting pitcher pitching at least six innings while allowing three or fewer earned runs), ranking last in all categories.

Baseball is a game dominated by pitchers, with starting pitchers being the most important. With the starters crumbling, there was nothing they could do. Even the bullpen, which had been so strong, came under strain and began to falter as well. The result was a ninth-place finish.

There were hopes beginning from the end of the first half. It was believed that Thomas Hatch, who replaced Mitch White due to a long-term injury; Kim Min-jun, who joined in June; and Pedro Avila (29), who replaced Anthony Venegasano after repeated struggles, would bring positive momentum. In this scenario, it was also hoped that Kim Geon-woo, who had performed well early in the season, along with the bullpen, would come alive as well.

Hatch and Kim Min-jun showed inconsistency, but Avila remained steady. In his debut on the 16th against KIA Tigers, Avila pitched six scoreless innings to secure his first win. On the 22nd against Lotte Giants, he allowed three runs over six innings to earn a second consecutive victory. He also pitched six scoreless innings in the game against Doosan Bears on the 28th.

His condition was not ideal. Manager Lee Sung-yong, ahead of the Doosan game on the 29th, said, "Yesterday was his third game, and his balance was at its worst. Yet he managed to prevent crisis situations and find a way to get through the game. I thought, 'What a smart kid.'" He added, "I once told Min-jun something similar before; balance doesn't always have to be perfect."

He continued, "Today, if you feel things aren't going well, you must be able to extract your maximum performance from within that situation. You need to calculate 'how can I adjust?' and 'what pitches should I use?'" He noted, "Everyone can see that Avila is in a difficult situation, yet he has managed to handle it all. That is experience, and it shows he possesses the capabilities of a good pitcher."

With Avila stabilizing things, the starting rotation has completely transformed. In the 12th games played during the second half, SSG's starters never left before completing five innings. Over those 12 games, they recorded 6 wins and 3 losses with an ERA of 3.68. Most importantly, they pitched 63⅔ innings, ranking first in innings pitched. They also achieved six Quality Starts, tied for the most with KT.

Kim Min-jun received advice from Avila and even added a slider as a new weapon. Initially, he was told to throw his previously flat slider more like a fastball, and changes were made to his grip. Now, he can throw the cutter-like slider he originally wanted. On the 29th, when Kim Min-jun became the winning pitcher, all the ground balls he induced in crisis situations during the first two innings were on sliders.

After the game, Kim Min-jun said, "I didn't use the slider very often before; I threw it just for show. But since it was working well, I started using it as a counter and even as a decisive pitch, so I used it easily and frequently. Catcher (Jo) Hyung-woo also told me today that the slider broke well, so I threw it with confidence." He added with a smile, "Things weren't going well, but thanks to Avila for sharing his knowledge. I will throw even better from now on."

Earlier, Manager Lee said, "With Avila joining and stabilizing things, it seems Hatch, another starter, is also feeling the difference. On the mound, he is gradually improving." He expressed satisfaction.

First, Hatch, who had struggled with SSG's uniform in six games (1 win, 4 losses, ERA 7.62), pitched six innings allowing only two runs (one earned) against NC Dinos on the 24th to secure a victory. It was his first Quality Start in the KBO League. Kim Geon-woo, who had been suffering from severe struggles, also secured a win with five scoreless innings against NC on the 25th—an impressive scoreless outing after as many as 14 games.

This is proof of how important the role of a trusted ace is. Avila's arrival has triggered a significant butterfly effect for SSG's starting rotation.

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*This content was translated by AI.