The legacy left by Choi Won-tae after leaving Kiwoom: A 154 km/h fastball crushes LG in a scoreless outing. "Trusting the power of my fastball led to good results; I am grateful as I came off the mound."

*This content was translated by AI.

Jeon Jun-pyo (21), a right-handed pitcher and promising prospect selected in the first round of Kiwoom Heroes' rookie draft, delivered an almost flawless performance against his former trade target, LG Twins, illuminating the team's future.

On the 12th, Jeon made his starting appearance against LG at Gocheok Sky Dome in Guro-gu, Seoul, recording five innings with one hit allowed, three walks, two hit-by-pitches, four strikeouts, and a scoreless line, leaving a strong impression. Although he was replaced by left-handed reliever Kim Sung-min in the sixth inning while the game remained tied 0-0, he perfectly fulfilled his duties as a starting pitcher.

A graduate of Seoul High School, Jeon was selected eighth overall in the first round of the 2024 rookie draft and joined Kiwoom Heroes. Standing at 186 cm, he possesses excellent physical attributes and throws a powerful fastball reaching up to 150 km/h, which is his standout strength. Kiwoom exercised its first-round draft pick due to high evaluations of Jeon's exceptional pitching ability and potential.

Notably, this draft pick carries a special story. During the 2023 season, when Kiwoom sent their ace pitcher Choi Won-tae (now with Samsung Lions) to LG Twins, they received a first-round draft pick along with outfielder Lee Ju-hyeong (25) and right-handed pitcher Kim Dong-gyu (22). Jeon Jun-pyo was the player selected using that very first-round pick. Thus, the valuable legacy left by Choi Won-tae after leaving his former team shone brightly against his original club. The team also won the game 4-3.

Although Jeon allowed some walks early in the game and appeared slightly unsettled, he overcame the crisis head-on with his powerful fastball. Over five innings, he dominated the LG lineup by allowing only one hit. His fastest pitch reached 154 km/h on this day, and he consistently maintained an average fastball velocity of 149 km/h. He relied solely on two breaking balls: a changeup and a slider. Analysts suggest that if he adds more pitches to his repertoire, he could establish himself as a future starting pitcher.

After the game, Jeon said, "I was disappointed by my shaky start, but I believe I received help from my teammates. Thanks to them, I gained strength and was able to pitch long innings." He credited his teammates for their support.

His ability to channel the disappointment from his previous appearance (against SSG Landers on the 2nd) into heightened focus also stood out. Jeon remarked, "I pitched well in the last game but lost control in the fifth inning, so I focused even more intensely during the fifth inning this time." He added, "Regarding my appearance in the sixth inning, Manager Seol Jong-jin kindly advised that it would be better to finish the game in a favorable situation, which allowed me to leave the mound gratefully."

Finally, when asked about the secret to his strong performance and future challenges, he stated, "Recently, by trusting the power of my fastball and concentrating on my pitching, I have been achieving good results. Although I allowed only one hit today, I am more disappointed about the walks than the hits. In the next game, I will focus on improving this aspect as well," promising even better pitching ahead.

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*This content was translated by AI.