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"I observed NC's recent momentum and their tendency to attack aggressively within three pitches..."
He knew his opponents would swing aggressively. Im Chan-kyu (34, LG Twins) did not throw to prevent hits; instead, he deliberately offered hittable pitches as if inviting them to swing. This game showcased the key to securing his first win against NC Dinos in 2,975 days and highlighted Im's greatest strength.
On the 26th at Seoul Jamsil Baseball Stadium, Im Chan-kyu started against the NC Dinos in a 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League home game, throwing 105 pitches to allow just 2 hits, issue 3 walks/strikes, and record 4 strikeouts while pitching scoreless innings.
The LG Twins' lineup hit a home run in the first inning and built a commanding 5-0 lead by the second. In the seventh, Austin Dean's multi-home run extended the lead to 8-0. The bullpen maintained stability with consistent pitching to secure an 8-0 victory. Im moved into sole possession of first place in wins with 12 (4 losses).
The last time Im defeated NC was a full eight years ago. After winning on July 4, 2018 with seven innings pitched and three earned runs allowed, he went winless in 14 appearances against NC over the next eight months and one day, compiling a 0-5 record with an ERA of 7.24 whenever facing them.
Today was different. Im retired all three batters in both the first and second innings. He struck out two batters in the third but allowed Cheon Jae-hwan to reach base via a hit-by-pitch before turning Kim Ju-won into an outfield fly, maintaining his scoreless effort.
In the fourth inning, after two outs, Im allowed Blaine Cream's first hit of the game but walked Park Geon-woo, creating his first scoring opportunity crisis of the day. Lee Woo-seong's sharp line drive headed toward left field, but Hong Chang-gi slipped while attempting to field it, allowing the ball to roll away — a moment that brought a smile to Im's face.
Im finished the fifth inning without major trouble. In the sixth, he allowed runners to reach third base for the first time that day but calmly handled NC's key hitters Blaine and Park Geon-woo with routine groundouts and fly balls, concluding his outing.
As always, Im did not overpower opponents with sheer velocity. He mixed a fastball averaging 144 km/h (minimum 135 km/h) across 33 pitches, a curveball with significant drop to disrupt timing (35 pitches), a changeup designed to deceive batters' eyes (22 pitches), and a slider (15 pitches) to execute intelligent pitching.
After the game, Im Chan-kyu said, "It feels like it took too long. Those years seemed endless. While I'm glad to break my personal slump given our team's current struggles, what brings me the most joy is that the team could win."
From the start of the game, he did not face many difficult counts. NC batters found themselves in unfavorable situations. Pitches that appeared to drop caused them to hold back their swings, resulting in looking strikeouts. Three of Im's four strikeouts were looking strikes, all occurring within the first three innings. Despite NC attempting to adjust their strategy, they struggled to make solid contact against pitches consistently hitting the edge of the strike zone.
Im Chan-kyu, who has recorded four consecutive quality starts (six or more innings with three or fewer earned runs) over his last four games, explained, "Pitchers always have good and bad periods. What matters is quickly identifying what's wrong during a slump — whether it's command issues or being outsmarted tactically." He added, "I focused more on command today. Since our defense is so strong, I aimed to 'get back on track quickly' when things weren't going well, which helped me maintain momentum and reach this point successfully."
Against a team he had struggled with for eight years — especially one that attacks aggressively — Im deliberately offered hittable pitches. This approach was possible precisely because command is his greatest strength.
Im Chan-kyu remarked, "Pitchers always aim for the edge of the strike zone, so results naturally followed. The challenge was getting ahead in the count before batters could make contact, which proved slightly difficult today." He continued, "But with excellent defensive support, I was able to navigate this game more easily than expected."
Im has long emphasized that precise command is the ultimate solution. "When opponents attack aggressively, we must respond with equal aggression. If they hit barrel balls or quality contact, then adjustments are necessary. But first, we need to resolve at-bats quickly to pitch more innings with fewer pitches," he explained. "Although I threw many off-speed pitches today, increasing my pitch count, I believe the analysis worked well. I'm extremely grateful to our performance analysis team."
While this concept resonates universally, it is not as simple as it sounds. If pitches drop too much, batters can easily hold back, leading to extra-base hits from accumulated pressure. Successful game management requires either throwing pitches near the strike zone that entice swings or delivering borderline strikes that force batters to hesitate — both demanding precise command. This ability defines Im Chan-kyu's strength.
Im stated, "Everyone might think pitchers should aim for the center, but I believe all pitches must be hittable. Pitches that are impossible to hit become balls with very high probability." He continued, "In Major League Baseball, if a pitcher throws over 100 mph (approximately 161 km/h), they can create extra breaking movement within the zone to generate swings and misses. While such pitchers will emerge in Korea too, my approach requires targeting the edge of the strike zone and alternating inside and outside to attack batters effectively."
This is why he admires similar pitchers in Major League Baseball (MLB), such as Zack Greinke and Kyle Hendricks — pitchers who rely on command to execute intelligent game management. Im said, "I've always admired those players. I particularly love pitchers who manage games so well and possess excellent control."
The name of Jacob Mizerawski (Milwaukee Brewers), who has shaken up MLB this season, also came up. Known for consistently throwing fastballs exceeding 160 km/h, he holds a 13-5 record with a 1.68 ERA and is the top candidate for the National League Cy Young Award this season.
Im Chan-kyu laughed, "His pitch repertoire is identical to mine. If we remove just 20 km/h from his velocity, it matches perfectly. My fastball sits at 140 km/h while he throws 160 km/h; my curveball reaches the low 130s, whereas his hits the high 110s." He added, "Of course, command matters most for someone like Mizerawski. Just place pitches inside the zone — truly an impressive player." Though their pitch types are similar, Im's remark reveals his strategic calculation: different approaches are necessary despite comparable offerings.
Despite tying for first place in wins, Im remains unfazed. "I shouldn't even worry about that," he said. "If I did, I'd have been chasing it every year. The moment you start focusing on it, everything ends." He continued, "I'm not sure about the win title. But since my victories directly contribute to our team's success, winning more means we'll finish higher in the standings. In that sense, winning more is truly beneficial. Even if I don't secure wins personally, knowing I won every game I started brings me the most joy. If something dramatic happens late in the season, then I'll consider challenging for the title. For now, the best outcome is simply ensuring my team wins whenever I take the mound."
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*This content was translated by AI.
