'ERA 8.68→1.38' KT Asia Quota pitcher faces elimination crisis, then makes a stunning turnaround: How Sugimoto became the ace reliever

*This content was translated by AI.

His fastball RPM (revolutions per minute), which was thought to be difficult to change, jumped from around 1,900 to 2,400. KT Wiz Asia Quota pitcher Sugimoto Kouki (26), who had an ERA of 8.68 in May and was sent down to the minor league amid speculation he would be replaced, returned as a reliable reliever just two months later. This turnaround was the result of KT's comprehensive overhaul of his pitching stance, delivery mechanics, and release point.

In the first year the Asia Quota system was introduced, KT selected Sugimoto, who had played in Japan's independent league. He was expected to be a standout pitcher with a fastball reaching speeds up to 154 km/h, complemented by an attractive slider and forkball.

However, that potential rarely translated onto the field. Despite a one-month adjustment period, he struggled further, posting an ERA of 8.68 over 11 games in May before being sent down to the Futures League.

After two weeks of retraining, Sugimoto returned transformed. He recorded scoreless outings in five of eight June games and posted an impressive 1.38 ERA throughout July. Over his last seven appearances, he earned consecutive holds, tying for first place in the KBO League in holds. His ERA also dropped significantly from 10.50 to 4.78. In response, KT manager Lee Kang-cheol (60) said, "His slider has improved a lot, and his fastball RPM has increased substantially."

The specific details behind the turnaround were revealed by KT first-division pitching coach Je Chun-mo (44). Coach Je explained, "His fastball RPM rose from around 1,900 to 2,400. We changed his foot placement on the rubber and made slight adjustments to his delivery mechanics. Switching from a windup to a set position shortened and simplified his delivery, which improved his release timing. This allowed him to find the right point to fully utilize his strength."

Advice from a legendary manager with a pitcher's background also accelerated the change. Coach Je recalled, "While he was preparing as a starter in the minor league, I watched his delivery closely. The manager suggested, 'How about trying to pitch from the set position?' and I thought it was a good idea."

Sugimoto tended to lose balance backward when lifting his leg, causing his body to sway. As his center of gravity shifted, his arm path became inefficient, leading to more solid contact and hard-hit balls in play.

Coach Je added, "A pitcher cannot strike out every batter. Slowing down the speed of batted balls increases the likelihood that fielders can make plays. That aspect improved after switching to the set position."

Changing a pitcher's ingrained habits mid-season is difficult, but even harder was convincing the player himself of the necessity for change. KT did not rush the process. Coach Je emphasized, "We reviewed monthly data provided by our analytics team and tried various adjustments, such as changing his foot placement on the rubber and modifying his forkball grip. We continuously verified whether these changes were moving in the right direction. Our organization does not make immediate decisions based on just a few pitches."

He continued, "It takes about one to two months for data to accumulate before a player can truly accept the change. If he were a domestic player, we might have made adjustments more quickly. However, as an Asia Quota player, we had to respect his individual approach and method."

When interviewed afterward, Sugimoto also expressed his strong desire for change. He said, "After being sent down to the Futures League, I thought a lot about how to make batters dislike my pitches. At first, it felt like batters were reacting too easily to my stuff. In the Futures League, I tried things like changing my foot placement on the rubber. I believe the key to my improvement came from studying and contemplating how to better utilize my pitches."

Once the player accepted the need for change, results followed quickly. Coach Je smiled, "Sugimoto is naturally a type of pitcher who should generate high arm rotation, but that wasn't happening before. When he threw, his arm kept drifting outward, and his release point was too low. The ball needed to come out from the proper point. Once Sugimoto started throwing and acknowledging the changes, his confidence grew."

With Sugimoto solidifying the eighth inning, KT's winning formula extended through closer Park Young-hyun (23). Despite frequent appearances, he stated, "I don't feel particularly tired yet. In fact, I have memories of being exhausted from throwing so much during high school. I also made many consecutive appearances in the independent league, so I know well how to manage my body when pitching on back-to-back days."

He added, "For the remaining two months, my assigned task is to close out the eighth inning. Behind me is (Park) Young-hyun. I want to hold batters scoreless and pass that momentum to Young-hyun. Currently, both our pitchers and position players are in good form. If we can maintain this atmosphere, I believe we can win the championship. I am committed to doing my best so the team can win."

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*This content was translated by AI.