*This content was translated by AI.View Original
Among the new foreign players recently signed by various teams, LG Twins' KARA-sco (39) stands out the most.
I have only seen him pitch in one game (7 perfect innings against Doosan Bears on August 1), and his raw stuff is not particularly overpowering. However, his control is exceptionally sharp, and like a pitcher with 112 career wins in Major League Baseball, his seasoned game management skills are impressive. With so much experience, he gives the impression of outsmarting opposing batters from the mound.
In particular, his cutter or slider that drops sharply as it approaches the center is well-controlled and does not miss the ABS zone, making it very difficult for batters to hit. Especially his sinker appeared to be the best among foreign pitchers in the KBO League. However, a proper evaluation will only be possible after facing teams with stronger lineups and left-handed hitters.
Watching KARA-sco pitch made me think that domestic coaches need to help pitchers develop their game management abilities more. Whether in high school or professional baseball, pitching coaches and managers often only say things like "gather your strength," "throw from the front," or "hold the ball this way," without teaching much about the far more important strategies for managing games. Looking back on my own past, I feel regret.
In the KBO League, pitchers who may not have overpowering stuff but excel at game management include Ryu Hyun-jin (39·Hanwha Eagles), Won Tae-in (26·Samsung Lions), and So Hyoung-jun (25·KT Wiz).
Recently, LG's young right-handed relief pitcher Kim Jin-soo (28) has caught my attention. His curveball drops significantly, but the overall power of his pitches is not particularly strong. However, I got the impression that he "knows what he is doing" when facing batters and even anticipating opponents' strategies. Whether there were signals from the bench or catcher, I noticed he effectively executed pickoff attempts at first base. He gives the impression of a pitcher who maximizes his strengths. (Kim Jin-soo, drafted in the second round, 17th overall pick of the 2021 rookie draft, is currently recording 4 wins, 3 losses, 1 save, and 8 holds in 41 games this season with an ERA of 3.18.)
Having a fast ball is good, but there are pitchers who cannot utilize their powerful pitches effectively when runners are on base and batters step into the batter's box. Especially in some teams, setup men or closers with strong velocity display such tendencies. In such cases, if they do not build a lead of 5 to 6 runs or more, even spectators become anxious. Moreover, when pitchers take too much time, it disrupts the stability of the team's fielders.
I believe one reason KT Wiz is leading the standings is that their lineup delivers in critical scoring opportunities, and their pitchers effectively shut down opponents during crisis situations, which also supports solid defense.
In the future, I hope managers and coaches engage in extensive discussions with pitchers regarding game management. Especially for teams like Kiwoom Heroes, where young pitchers are throwing powerful pitches, I would recommend that coaching staffs focus on teaching these pitchers game management strategies intensively.
/Former Korea national baseball team manager Kim In-sik (currently a senior advisor to the KBO)
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*This content was translated by AI.View Original
