*This content was translated by AI.
This season, Wes Benjamin (33), who started as a replacement foreign player for Doosan Bears and rose to become their ace, expressed sincere gratitude after earning a victory in just his second game back from injury, following high praise from his former mentor Lee Kang-cheol (60), manager of KT Wiz.
Benjamin made the starting lineup against Samsung Lions at Seoul Jamsil Baseball Stadium on the 16th, pitching five innings with only one run allowed to secure his seventh win of the season. Notably, he outperformed Chris Paddack (30), a formidable opponent that Samsung could have deployed as a strong card.
Ahead of the game, Benjamin threw 85 pitches as planned by Doosan manager Kim Won-hyung (54). His fastball reached a top speed of 147 km/h, maintaining an average velocity of 146 km/h. Beyond his fastball, he mixed in various breaking balls including sinkers, sliders, changeups, sweepers, and curves to dominate Samsung's batters.
After the game, Benjamin met with reporters on-site and said, "It feels especially meaningful to secure a win after such a long time. I am grateful to the coaching staff and teammates who believed in me and waited for my recovery since my last appearance. Although I'm still in the phase of rebuilding my body as if going through spring training again, I am moving forward in the right direction."
On this day, comments recently made by KT manager Lee Kang-cheol became a hot topic. It was reported that Lee, who had formed a mentor-mentee bond with Benjamin during his time with KT from the 2022 season through the 2024 season, offered unreserved praise for Benjamin's pitching this season, stating, "His stuff is completely different compared to his time at KT; he has become a much better pitcher."
In response to related questions, Benjamin smiled and said, "I will take Manager Lee Kang-cheol's words as high praise." He continued, "Over the past year, I poured in a lot of time and effort to fill my shortcomings and develop myself. I am happy that the sweat and hard work I've shed have been well reflected on the mound like a showcase." With mature humility, Benjamin acknowledged his former mentor's respect while expressing pride in his own progress. He added, "I will continue to improve my weaknesses and strive to become an even better pitcher," showing no loss of modesty.
In fact, Benjamin is not only trusted for his skills but also for his extraordinary "love for Korea." During the 2023 autumn playoffs while playing for KT Wiz, he wore a cap inscribed with "ITAEWON" to comfort those affected by the tragedy. Even in daily life, he has consistently shown deep affection for Korean society and fans through regular charity activities alongside foreign teammates. He even speaks basic Korean to communicate sincerely, further endearing himself to everyone.
Benjamin also did not forget to express gratitude toward the infielders who made outstanding defensive plays on the field that day. Regarding shortstop Park Chan-ho's incredible defensive play that erased a bases-loaded, one-out crisis in the third inning, Benjamin said, "It was an unbelievable and excellent defense. I was too focused during my next at-bat to thank him immediately, but I conveyed my gratitude after that at-bat ended," smiling as he spoke. He also specifically mentioned outfielder Jeong Soobin, who made a crucial defensive play in the outfield, and first baseman Kang Seung-ho, who delivered strong defense in the ninth inning, adding, "Thanks to their reliable defense, I was able to find stability."
Regarding the situation where key team members including Kwak Bin, Choi Min-seok, and Park Jun-soon were absent due to being called up for the Asian Games national team, Benjamin demonstrated the sense of responsibility befitting an ace. "It is true that their absence feels significant, but now the remaining players must each take on more than their share," he emphasized. He further pledged, "We will unite as one team and effectively fill the gaps," showing firm determination.
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*This content was translated by AI.
