"We weren't planning to send him out on Sunday..." Cho Min-jun, a fellow trainee of Han Dong-hee who harbored strong ambitions for a starting role, made a surprise appearance in the Doosan game on the 6th!

*This content was translated by AI.

"Actually, we weren't planning to send him out on Sunday, but he insisted that he wanted to pitch one more time."

Cho Min-jun (27), a versatile right-handed pitcher for SSG Landers and a fellow high school classmate of Han Dong-hee (27) from Lotte Giants, is set to take the mound as a starter despite being scheduled to appear twice weekly. He is driven by strong ambitions and determination to secure a starting role.

SSG manager Lee Sung-yong announced on the 2nd that Cho Min-jun has been selected as the starting pitcher for Sunday's (6th) game against Doosan Bears at Incheon SSG Landers Field, ahead of the team's away match against Kiwoom Heroes to be held at Seoul Gocheok Sky Dome.

Initially, the coaching staff had planned for Cho to rest. On the previous day (1st), Cho started and threw 85 pitches, holding the mound effectively. His performance that day was a scoreless outing over five innings with four hits allowed, four walks, and one strikeout, securing his third win of the season. The SSG bench intended to give Cho additional rest by skipping his scheduled weekend appearance, considering his pitch count and physical condition.

However, Cho's determination to start changed the team's calculations. Manager Lee Sung-yong revealed, "We actually called Cho in today to discuss various matters. We had planned to let him rest on Sunday and prepare for the next phase, but he strongly insisted that he wanted to pitch one more time."

The manager continued, "Yesterday, we also stopped his pitch count at 85. He expressed strong ambitions as a starting pitcher and said he wants to keep pitching. We can't give opportunities to some players while denying them to others." Unable to ignore the passion of a player who actively competed for a starting role, the manager ultimately agreed, saying, "Then go ahead and try it until Sunday," readily supporting Cho's decision. This was a gesture of acknowledging the momentum and willpower of an ascending player.

This season, Cho Min-jun has appeared in 25 games with a record of three wins and five losses, posting an ERA of 4.67. Of these appearances, 18 were as a starter. Although he primarily worked out of the bullpen in July, he transitioned back to a starting role in August and has consistently rotated through the lineup.

Cho's bold assertion aligns perfectly with SSG's blueprint for building a "deep starting rotation" for next season. This season, insufficient innings from starters caused operational challenges. Consequently, Manager Lee is considering testing various resources during the remainder of the season to establish a "10-pitcher system" for next year, including six to seven first-division starters and players from the Futures League team.

The decision to start Cho Min-jun in Sunday's home game against Doosan was made possible by his strong personal will. Cho voluntarily gave up rest to seize the opportunity. It remains to be seen whether he can repay the manager's trust with another outstanding performance.

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*This content was translated by AI.