Even after throwing 160 km/h, An Woo-jin is praised by Kwak Bin: "The head-to-head was touching; he's still one step above me → I hope we face each other in MLB next time..."

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Doosan Bears' Kwak Bin (27) and Kiwoom Heroes' An Woo-jin (27), known as the "1999-born best friends" representing the KBO League, delivered a historic "dual 160 km/h speed show" in their first-ever regular-season head-to-head matchup. However, after the game, the winner Kwak Bin's gaze was not on his own record or the win-loss result, but directed toward his long-time friend who had walked the same path with sincere respect.

In the matchup against Kiwoom at Jamsil Baseball Stadium on the 29th, Kwak Bin ignited the scoreboard from the top of the first inning. Against Kiwoom's Hiura, his fourth pitch in a 1-ball-2-strike count reached an astonishing 160.3 km/h. This shattered his previous career-best velocity of 159.1 km/h recorded just six days earlier during a game against Lotte Giants at Jamsil on the 23rd, setting a new personal record.

An Woo-jin did not back down in response. Despite being in his comeback season after surgery, he countered with his signature destructive power, delivering heavy fastballs averaging 156 km/h and reaching up to 160 km/h. For the first time in KBO history, both starting pitchers in a single game broke the 160th km/h barrier.

Kwak Bin secured the victory. He threw 96 pitches over six innings, allowing five hits, three walks, eight strikeouts, and two earned runs to achieve a Quality Start (QS) and earn his 11th win of the season. In contrast, An Woo-jin took the loss after pitching five innings, allowing seven hits (including one home run), three walks, five strikeouts, and five earned runs. Although Kiwoom manager Seol Jong-jin (53) had stated before the game that An Woo-jin might exceed 100 pitches, he was taken off the mound early.

However, no arrogance could be found in Kwak Bin when they met in the dugout after the game. When asked if he had kept a commemorative ball for breaking the 160th km/h barrier, Kwak Bin waved his hands and laughed. He explained, "I'm just letting that go. For a pitcher, it's a dream velocity, but after throwing such a pitch in the first inning, my balance actually felt off. My priority was to quickly regain my balance rather than focus on the record. It seems like the timing and mechanics of my effort momentarily aligned perfectly."

Regarding his first head-to-head start against An Woo-jin, his 2018 rookie draft classmate and fellow top fireballer, Kwak Bin openly admitted feeling pressure. On the related question, he said, "Saying I wasn't aware would be a lie. We're friends who are constantly compared, so I was very conscious of it." He added, "I think my strength unconsciously tightened up, causing my balance to waver. Honestly, I'd prefer we never face each other again. It's better for both of us," he joked.

Yet beneath the joke lay deep camaraderie. When asked what thoughts came to mind while watching An Woo-jin on the mound, Kwak Bin paused briefly before confessing, "It was a bit touching." He continued, "(An) Woo-jin has also had difficult times due to injuries, and I too went through a period of hardship with surgery and long rehabilitation. The fact that we can both throw pitches on the same mound without injury and in good health is truly meaningful and touching," he expressed with emotion.

On this day at Jamsil, scouts from five Major League Baseball teams — the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, Kansas City Royals, Toronto Blue Jays, and San Diego Padres — closely observed the two fireballers' pitches on-site. When reporters asked if there was a scenario where they might face each other in MLB, Kwak Bin replied, "If we're going to face each other again, it would be far better to do it there (in MLB)." He then added with a smile, "I'd like to stop doing this domestically now (laughs). Woo-jin is still cautious this year as he's in his comeback process, but everyone will be surprised by his performance next year. It's no easy feat to return after such a long break and throw at this level," he emphasized.

Kwak Bin continued, acknowledging that despite his own dominant pace this season, An Woo-jin remains "one step above." He stated, "I'm not being modest. People only judge based on current appearances, but look at the records Woo-jin set in the 2022 season. At just 23 years old, he threw over 190 innings and set a record that will stand for generations in KBO history. Since then, there has been no pitcher like him except for senior Ryu Hyun-jin. As long as I don't achieve an ERA under 1.00, I cannot compare to Woo-jin," he offered high praise.

Even after securing the win, Kwak Bin humbled himself and sincerely cheered for his friend's resurgence. The two "monster fireballers," who are the hottest rivals on the mound but the most reliable companions off it, now look beyond Jamsil toward an even broader stage: Major League Baseball.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original