"Back then, I had done absolutely nothing" From a zero-pitch gold medal to a heroic 111 pitches... The national team ace shed the "free rider" label, yet still felt sorry

*This content was translated by AI.

'National team ace' Guak Bin (27, Doosan Bears) has shaken off the controversy of a "free rider gold medal" from three years ago with his own efforts. However, his sense of apology toward his teammates had not entirely disappeared.

Guak Bin returned through Incheon International Airport on the 28th and shared his thoughts, stating, "I won a gold medal before, but back then I had done absolutely nothing, so I didn't think of it as winning the gold medal on my own." He added, "Since another opportunity came around this time, I viewed it as a chance to prove myself and pitched with everything I had. I am relieved that we won the gold medal."

In this 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, Guak Bin took responsibility for the two most important games. He started the first group stage match against Taiwan on the 21st, dominating by allowing no hits over six innings while recording two walks and ten strikeouts without giving up a run. He threw 90 pitches. Korea got off to a smooth start by defeating the formidable Taiwan team 5-0.

He also took the mound as the starter in the final against Japan on the 27th. Guak Bin shut down the Japanese lineup scoreless through six innings and stayed on the mound into the seventh. He was eventually replaced after allowing a tying run, finishing with 6⅓ innings pitched, four hits allowed, two walks, nine strikeouts, and one earned run. He threw a total of 111 pitches. His final record for the tournament was two games, 12⅓ innings pitched, one earned run, 19 strikeouts, and an ERA of 0.73. This was why team manager Ryu Ji-hyun (55) named Guak Bin without hesitation when asked about the tournament MVP immediately after the final.

This moment was all the more special because of memories from three years ago. Guak Bin had also participated as a key pitcher for the national team at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games held in 2023. However, he developed a cough near his right shoulder blade before the tournament and was further complicated by cold symptoms. Although he was expected to pitch in the game against Hong Kong and one match in the Super Round, he ultimately never took the mound even once.

At the time, Korea won the gold medal thanks to the performances of pitchers including Moon Dong-ju (23, Hanwha Eagles), and Guak Bin also stood on the podium. However, because he received a gold medal and military service exemption without throwing a single pitch, he was subjected to unkind gazes labeled as "free riding." The mental burden felt by the person involved was even greater. This was why, about a month later, when he donned the national team uniform again to participate in the 2023 Asia Professional Baseball Championship (APBC), he revealed his determination, saying, "I want to become a player who can also succeed on the international stage."

And at the Asian Games that came around three years later, Guak Bin became a wildcard and the team's number one starter. He proved his determination on the mound, and particularly in the final against Japan, that sentiment was fully reflected in his 111 pitches. Looking back on the final against Japan, Guak Bin said, "When I went up in the seventh inning, I thought I could easily get three outs. But once I passed 100 pitches, some mistakes started to creep in, and those pitches turned into hits, resulting in runs allowed." He added, "I threw every single pitch with intense desperation. I absolutely wanted to shut them down through the seventh inning myself."

That was why he bowed his head when leaving the mound with a crisis remaining in the seventh inning. Fortunately, Jo Byung-hyun (24, SSG Landers), who took over next, got out of the jam, and Korea regained the lead in the eighth inning to defeat Japan 3-1. Guak Bin conveyed his honest feelings, saying, "I didn't shed tears. I just felt too sorry to look at my teammates' faces." He added, "I wanted to leave the eighth and ninth innings to Byung-hyun and Yeong-hyun so they could pitch comfortably, but it seems that didn't happen, which was a pity."

Three years ago, he felt sorry toward his teammates for not being able to play in the games. This time, despite throwing 111 pitches, he again expressed regret for not completing his part to the very end. What had changed in the meantime was the weight Guak Bin carried.

Regarding the position of the team's number one starter, he said, "It is truly a position that carries a lot of burden," but added, "I thought this pressure could also be a position that helps me grow further. I prepared for the tournament and entered the games with that mindset, so it seems good results followed."

Even after wearing two gold medals around his neck, his attitude toward the national team emblem remains unchanged. Guak Bin emphasized, "You can be selected for the national team or you might not be. But if you are selected, I believe you must do your best because you are wearing the national team emblem. As a professional, you must absolutely produce results without making any excuses."

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*This content was translated by AI.