"Study a bit more." The one sentence that changed the closer with 28 saves... The true value of 36-year-old free agent catcher Park Dong-won, as explained by Son Ju-young.

*This content was translated by AI.

A catcher's value cannot be explained solely by batting average and home runs. It is about creating choices that are close to the right answer for a pitcher on the mound at the moment when a single pitch determines victory or defeat. This is why LG Twins still need Park Dong-won (36).

LG's home field is experiencing an intriguing period of coexistence this season. While veteran catcher Park Dong-won continues to anchor the position, young catcher Lee Ju-heon (23) is gradually gaining experience and growing into his role. Before the game on the 18th, Park Dong-won had recorded a .226 batting average (71 hits in 314 at-bats), 12 home runs, 52 RBIs, a .332 on-base percentage, a .389 slugging percentage, and an OPS (on-base plus slugging) of 0.721 across 114 games. Lee Ju-heon has also expanded his presence with a .214 batting average (27 hits in 126 at-bats), four home runs, 17 RBIs, and an OPS of 0.605 over 67 games.

There is also a view that if we naturally consider the future, more opportunities should be given to young Lee Ju-heon. Moreover, Park Dong-won will regain free agent (FA) status after finishing this season. Nevertheless, there are reasons why LG needs Park Dong-won at every critical moment. The person who explained this most vividly was closer Son Ju-young (28), who threw the ball directly from the mound.

On the eve of Saturday's match against the Changwon NC Dinos, Son Ju-young told StarNews that playing alongside Park Dong-won felt "comfortable." This was not merely a vague trust born from Park being a veteran catcher. It was confidence built over three years through studying together and learning from failures.

Son Ju-young recalled, "(Park) Dong-won and I have often started together as a pair since 2024. Dong-won told me to 'study harder,' and he even scolded me. So I studied hard and asked many questions, and through that, I realized a lot."

Park Dong-won did not teach a simple answer of throwing a specific pitch type. It was about reading the batter's reaction and increasing the probability of success for the next pitch. Son Ju-young explained, "There is no definitive answer as to which pitch is better when a batter shows such a reaction, but (Park) Dong-won tried to increase the probability while learning from his brother."

He also took responsibility for the failures. Son Ju-young awkwardly smiled and said, "Dong-won threw based on my signal, and if he got hit, Dong-won often apologized, saying he was sorry. When I insisted and got hit, I often apologized, saying I was sorry."

After spending three years together, they have reached a relationship where they no longer need many words to understand each other's thoughts. Son Ju-young said, "Having done this for three years, I now know what Dong-won-hyung wants and what he is thinking."

Yeom Kyung-yeop (58), the LG manager, shares the same perspective on the value of veteran catchers. Ahead of the Changwon NC game on the 16th, Manager Yeom emphasized the importance of a catcher's in-game management skills, stating, "A catcher must read the game. He needs to know which pitches from today's pitcher are effective and which are not. He also needs to understand how to handle various situations."

Unlike veteran pitchers like Carlos KARA-sco (39), who can manage games on their own, it means that a catcher's game management skills are far more important for young pitchers with less experience. Manager Yeom stated, "A good pitcher will throw his own pitches regardless of who catches them," while emphasizing, "A good catcher is one who helps pitchers with poor control or young pitchers survive in the game."

Ultimately, the value of Park Dong-won extends beyond simply receiving a pitcher's ball. It lies in reading that day's pitching quality and batters' reactions, as well as the game situation, to find together the choice with the highest probability of success.

Son Ju-young's transformation is a testament to his value. Son has been part of the starting rotation for two consecutive seasons, achieving 20 wins and earning a spot on the national team. This season, due to team circumstances, he made his debut as a closer, recording 1 win in 39 games with no losses and 28 saves, along with an ERA of 1.85 through the game on the 18th.

As he experiences the new role of closer, Son Ju-young feels even more deeply the meaning of "study" that he learned from Park Dong-won. Son Ju-young said, "The closer's position is one where a game can be decided by a single pitch," and added, "In a brief moment, I think very often about 'what should I throw?' or 'since the batter reacted this way, what should I throw next?'"

Two years ago, Park Dong-won's single remark, "Study a bit more," has now become the foundation for Son Woo-young to find her own answers under the greatest pressure. Furthermore, having the familiar Park Dong-won by her side at that moment is a definite source of strength.

Of course, Lee Ju-heon's growth cannot be overlooked. In fact, the game against NC on the 15th was one that confirmed his potential. With LG leading 3-2 in the bottom of the eighth inning with one out and runners on first and third bases, Son Ju-young struck out Seo Ho-cheol, and Lee Ju-heon immediately threw to third base. As NC executed a hit-and-run play, Koo Bon-hyuk tagged Oh Tae-yang, who was far from the base. The crisis of an equalizing run ended in an instant.

Son Ju-young said, "I thought this was a game where (Lee) Ju-heon really grew. He faced tight crises twice and handled them well, made good blocks, and also caught the runner at third base."

The fact that a young catcher is growing does not conflict with the value Park Dong-won possesses. Son Ju-young also started as a pitcher alongside Lee Ju-heon last year, pitching close to 60–70 innings together, and believed, "(Lee) Ju-heon now knows me well."

However, the comfort felt when playing in sync with Park Dong-won belongs to another realm entirely. It is not a matter of good versus bad but rather trust built through countless exchanges of signals and shared successes and failures over three years. Once this season concludes, Park Dong-won will be eligible to enter the free agent market again. Considering his age of 36, LG must also begin contemplating its future.

At the same time, there are quite a few young pitchers on LG's mound now. Therefore, Park Dong-won's value cannot be explained solely by batting average, home runs, and games played. The starting pitcher who was told "study more" two years ago has now grown into a closer with 28 saves. In moments where a single pitch can change the outcome of a game, he reads the batter's reaction and considers the next pitch.

A veteran catcher leaves more behind for his team than just his hits and home runs: he teaches pitchers how to think and enables them to find their own answers. Son Ju-young's growth demonstrates the value of Park Dong-won, a worth that rarely appears on the scorecard.

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*This content was translated by AI.