"I still have plenty of stamina left because I haven't been doing well recently." KT's inaugural hold king, who hit an ERA floor of 8.39, has cheerfully returned [Interview]

*This content was translated by AI.

"Coach... you shouldn't praise me. If I get praised, the results won't be good in the next game..."

Ju Kwon (31), who recently met with StarNews in Suwon, waved his hands immediately after being told by KT Wiz manager Lee Kang-cheol (60) that his recent upward trend was being praised. Despite his worried expression, a smile lingered at the end of his words. It was a moment that revealed why first-division pitching coach Je Chun-mo (44) considers Ju Kwon a refreshing player.

According to Coach Je Chun-mo, Ju Kwon is a player who speaks his mind regardless of seniority or juniority. However, he does not make the atmosphere heavy. He relieves tension with appropriate jokes and wit. So Hyoung-jun (25), who has been together for seven seasons, testified: "(Ju) Kwon-hyung has been someone I've known since I was 20 years old. Whether the game results are good or bad, he shows little emotional fluctuation. That's why it seems he can perform consistently every year."

Although his performance had ups and downs, Ju Kwon's expression and attitude toward accepting results did not change significantly. So Hyoung-jun said: "(Ju) Kwon-hyung is a bit reserved at first, but once you get to know him, he's really fun. He accepts all the pranks from juniors and also plays many pranks on both seniors and juniors."

When describing KT, the youngest club in the KBO, Ju Kwon cannot be left out. In 2020, he recorded 31 holds to become the club's first-ever hold king, and the following year, he contributed to the team's first unified championship since its founding. After reaching the peak, however, he also experienced a long decline.

Since last year, he has gradually found signs of recovery, recording 3 wins with no losses, 1 hold, and an ERA of 3.27 in 35 games this year, regaining the stability of his prime years.

Manager Lee Kang-cheol praised: "Ju Kwon and Woo Kyu-min are fundamentally pitchers who do not give many walks, making them highly valuable. Especially (Ju) Kwon has improved significantly." Even if the starting pitcher falters early, Ju Kwon, Woo Kyu-min (41), and Jeon Yong-ju (26) hold the middle innings, connecting to 8th-inning Sugi Moto Kouki (26) and 9th-inning Park Young-hyun (23). This has become KT's recent winning formula.

The rebound began with thorough preparation. Ju Kwon modified his changeup grip with Coach Je Chun-mo before the season started. Since becoming a two-pitch pitcher heavily reliant on the changeup after 2019 and 2020, new changes were necessary. At Manager Lee Kang-cheol's suggestion, he added a splitter to his repertoire, and since last year, he increased the proportion of two-seam fastballs instead of four-seam fastballs.

Ju Kwon said: "It seems that the preparation I made during camp is now paying off. I had many discussions with the analysis team and players. My physical condition is not significantly different from when I was the hold king in 2019 and 2020." He added firmly, "I actually perform better when I pitch more frequently. Since pitching often recently, I am maintaining a good momentum."

He turned years of struggles into a foundation for success. He remembers 2018, when he recorded an ERA of 8.39 in 46 games, as his lowest point. Ju Kwon stated: "Honestly, it's true that the past few years have been regrettable. I don't think such times should happen again. Especially, I thought there was no way to go lower than in 2018. There are good times and bad times. Whether I pitch well or poorly, I always try to stay positive."

Even amidst ups and downs, his attitude of not losing positivity was evident when dealing with juniors. Knowing better than anyone the emotions during difficult times in baseball, he accepts pranks from juniors who approach him first and speaks honestly when necessary.

Ju Kwon smiled: "The manager, Coach Je Chun-mo, and Coach Jeon Byeong-du create a comfortable atmosphere. Other seniors also treat me comfortably, so I can joke and talk freely. Of course, in situations where it's not appropriate, I read the room. But I try to keep the atmosphere positive by joking a lot. (Bae) Jung-dae and players of my age help me a lot."

This season, his role cannot be explained by numbers alone. The youngest pitcher who once knew nothing has now become the central axis of the magical squad that is surging both on and off the mound.

His sense of humor remained intact until the end of the interview. Despite frequently appearing in games as the team enjoys a winning streak, he remains unfazed. Ju Kwon said: "The pitching staff is in good form, and the atmosphere has improved even more since Kim Hyun-soo-hyung joined." He cheerfully added: "Even if the weather gets hot, there's no hardship. My physical condition has been well-managed on its own over the past 3-4 years due to my struggles, so I still have plenty of stamina left. There's nothing to worry about."

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*This content was translated by AI.