*This content was translated by AI.
Although he is not a pitcher known for throwing extremely fast pitches, Lim Chan-gyu (34), LG Twins' "native ace," has shattered doubts and prejudices with his skill, finally reaching the milestone of 100 career wins. While he does not fit the recent trend of fireballer-type starting pitchers, he leads the league in wins this season by relying on perfect control of pitch speed and pinpoint accuracy.
On the 13th, Lim Chan-gyu started against the Samsung Lions at DaeguSamsung Lions Park in a "2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League" away game. He pitched seven innings, allowing seven hits (including two home runs), striking out six batters without issuing a walk, and giving up four earned runs, leading his team to a decisive 13-5 victory.
With this win, Lim Chan-gyu secured his 14th victory of the season (with five losses), tying his personal best for most wins in a single season (14 wins in 2023). At the same time, he achieved the emotional milestone of 100 career wins (90 losses) just 15 years after making his professional debut.
In fact, Lim Chan-gyu's start to the game was challenging. In the bottom of the first inning with one out and a runner on first base, he surrendered a two-run home run to Park Seung-gyeo over the left-field fence, conceding the first run. However, Lim remained composed. When his team tied the score 2-2 in the third inning and then scored five runs in the top of the fourth, including a three-run home run by Austin Dean, Lim focused even more intensely on his pitching.
Considering the tendency for home runs to be hit frequently at Lions Park, Lim avoided walks and aggressively induced ground balls. He allowed a solo home run to Park Seung-gyeo in consecutive at-bats during the sixth inning and gave up a triple to Ryu Ji-hyuk in the seventh, surrendering an additional run on an infield grounder. Nevertheless, he held firm through seven innings. With a total pitch count of 97, Lim completed his third seven-inning outing of the season before exiting the game as soon as the eighth inning began. His fastest pitch that day reached only 141 km/h. However, he showcased his perfect control by effectively utilizing a variety of breaking balls, including his fastball, cutter, changeup, and curveball. He also revealed that he had specifically worked on refining his outside curveball to counter key opponent Choi Hyung-woo, noting its effectiveness during the game.
Immediately after the game, Lim Chan-gyu was drenched in a celebratory water shower from his teammates, beaming with joy as he savored the triumph of reaching 100 wins. Speaking with reporters on-site, Lim said, "The road to 100 wins wasn't exactly smooth. Still, I quietly walked this path without injury and reached this spot." He added, "I've learned a lot about baseball from many coaches and through my own studies, and I am deeply grateful for how far I've come. With the season still ongoing and my playing career ahead of me, I will do my best to win even more games."
He also shared his unique reflections on overcoming cold stares from others and achieving his goals through sheer determination. Lim Chan-gyu cited his no-hitter against Hanwha on March 26 last year as the most memorable moment of his career. "People were saying, 'Lim Chan-gyu is talking about a no-hitter,' but I eventually made it happen," he said. He continued, "I've also heard people say, 'Is Lim Chan-gyu talking about getting 100 wins?' But achieving this milestone one step at a time feels incredibly honorable." His pride was evident as he spoke.
With this victory, Lim Chan-gyu tied with Doosan's Choi Min-seok (14 wins) for first place in the league's win category. As Choi Min-seok is set to be called up to the Asian Games representative team in Aichi and Nagoya starting on the 14th, Lim now has a prime opportunity to take sole possession of the top spot in wins.
However, Lim Chan-gyu quickly dismissed any thoughts of chasing the title. "I have no desire for the win champion title," he stated. "On the mound, I should only focus on throwing good pitches to batters. Climbing onto the mound with records in mind feels like a distortion of the game." He added, "It's more important to continue walking the quiet path I've been on," demonstrating the sense of responsibility befitting an ace pitcher.
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*This content was translated by AI.
