"I fell in love with Kim Won-joong's grit." Lotte's 150 km/h rookie dreams of being a closer, not a starter: "Getting strikeouts in high-pressure situations is fun" [Interview]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

"I want to pitch in relief or as a closer."

When young pitchers are asked about their dream role, the answer is usually starter. However, Kim Gyu-min (18, Deoksu High School) was different.

Kim Gyu-min, a right-hander selected by the Lotte Giants in the eighth round of the 2027 KBO Draft, recently met with StarNews at Busan Sajik Baseball Stadium and spoke about his future, choosing the bullpen without hesitation.

His reasoning was clear. Kim Gyu-min said, "Even in high school, I actually felt more comfortable pitching in low-pressure situations because I didn't get nervous and couldn't really feel like I was playing a game," adding, "Getting strikeouts in high-pressure situations is truly fun. It doesn't happen often, but the thrill of those moments is so good that, in a way, it feels like I train just to experience that feeling once." He smiled.

This aligns perfectly with how Lotte views Kim Gyu-min. The Lotte organization introduced Kim Gyu-min at the time of the draft as a "bullpen resource selected for his stable command allowing him to utilize both left and right corners, aggressive pitches on the body side, and a high-value slider."

Kim Gyu-min appeared in 40 games over three years of high school, recording a 9-2 record with an ERA of 2.76. Over 98 innings, he allowed 41 walks and hit batters (34 walks, 7 hit by pitches) while striking out 108 batters, contributing to Deoksu High School reaching the top spot in national tournaments five times.

In particular, this year saw a stark difference between the early and late stages of the season. Kim Gyu-min reflected, "My pace wasn't good in the beginning, and my velocity didn't come out well during the E-Mart Cup either. I think I pitched smartly at that time to achieve good results."

In a frustrating situation, he chose more intense training. Kim Gyu-min said, "Since my velocity wasn't coming out, I actually had nothing to lose. I just pushed myself extremely hard in practice," adding, "I went out every evening with the mindset of 'let's try it even if my arm falls off,' doing 100 shadow pitches each time."

Changes appeared as the second half began. After adjusting his balance with the pitching coach, his velocity increased, reaching a peak of 150 km/h. His average velocity also rose to around 144-145 km/h. Kim Gyu-min said, "I didn't know my speed would increase in the second half either. But since I tried that hard, I have no regrets."

He is not a pitcher who only has a fastball. Currently, he utilizes a sweeper, curveball, and splitter, with the goal of adding a changeup and a fast-type cutter in the pros. He said, "The rotation on my splitter is somewhat visible. The changeup feels like it goes like a fastball and then suddenly disappears, so I want to develop that first," emphasizing, "I can manage games well and throw breaking balls, but I definitely want to show fans that I am a pitcher with good fastball power."

He did not start as a pitcher from the beginning. Kim Gyu-min started playing baseball in elementary school and wore a catcher's mask until his second year of middle school. He began pitching on the mound in earnest starting from the winter of his second year. During his time as a catcher, he learned baseball by watching Yang Eui-ji (39, Doosan Bears), but after his selection by Lotte was decided, he gained a new role model: closer Kim Won-joong (33).

Kim Gyu-min said, "I fell in love with how Senior Kim Won-joong presents himself on the mound," adding, "There was a scene where Senior Kang Min-ho came to bat and pitched as if he couldn't afford to lose based on the atmosphere. Watching that, I felt, 'You need at least this much grit to succeed.'"

He continued, "I originally thought Senior Kim Won-joong had grit, but after joining Lotte, I immediately made him my role model," adding shyly, "Today (the 10th), I only saw his face, and it felt like seeing a celebrity, so I couldn't really speak well."

Having grown up in Seoul and been familiar with the atmosphere at Jamsil Baseball Stadium, Sajik Baseball Stadium was different for him. Lotte, famous for its large fan base, was one of his dream teams. Kim Gyu-min said, "I originally wanted to go to a team with a thick fan base. I am the type who gets energy from the cheers in the stadium when there are many fans."

He added, "A friend who is a Lotte fan always told me 'Lotte is different,' but until before joining, it didn't really sink in. I honestly didn't know it would be to this extent. Coming here directly, I felt, 'Wow, everyone's fandom here is truly unique.' Seeing that today was nearly sold out, all I could think was that I want to play here quickly."

The request that Lotte fan friend gave Kim Gyu-min after his selection touched on where he aims. Kim Gyu-min stated, "He told me to definitely grow well and become Lotte's closer, and to guard the back end well. Even in high school, when the coach said 'get ready,' there were times I would throw about five pitches before coming up. I am always moving around like that to prepare, so it is no problem," revealing his ambitious goal.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original