Look at LG's 28-year-old 'this pitcher'... He possesses the ability to operate a game with intelligence [Kim In-sik's One Word]

*This content was translated by AI.

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 good, and like a pitcher with 112 career wins in Major League Baseball, his seasoned game management skills were impressive. With so much experience, he gave the impression of outmaneuvering opposing batters from the mound.

In particular, his cutter or slider that drops sharply as it approaches the center was well-commanded and did not miss the ABS zone, making it very difficult for batters to hit. Especially his sinker appeared to be the best among all 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 skills more. Whether in high school or the professional leagues, 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 of game operation. Looking back on my own past, I feel regret.

In the KBO League, pitchers who may not have overpowering stuff but excel in 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-su (28) has caught my attention. His curveball drops significantly, but the overall power of his pitches is not particularly strong. However, I felt that he "knows how to pitch" not just by competing with batters but also by anticipating and countering opponents' strategies. Whether there were signals from the bench or catcher, I noticed he executed base pickoff attempts appropriately. He gave the impression of a pitcher who maximizes his own strengths. (Kim Jin-su, drafted in the 2nd 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. This is especially true for some teams whose setup men or closers possess strong stuff yet display such tendencies. In such cases, if the team does not build a lead of 5 or 6 runs or more, even spectators become anxious. Additionally, 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 in turn supports strong defensive play.

In the future, I hope managers and coaches will have many discussions with pitchers regarding game operation. Especially for teams like Kiwoom Heroes, where young pitchers are throwing powerful pitches, I would recommend that coaching staffs focus on teaching them game management strategies intensively.

/Kim In-sik, former Korea national baseball team manager (currently KBO Senior Advisory Board member)

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*This content was translated by AI.