"In 0.X seconds, so many thoughts came to mind": The urgency of an LG championship member... Ending Doosan's autumn with consecutive strikeouts on the 'ABS edge' [WC1 On-site]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

"Honestly, so many thoughts came to mind within 0.X seconds."

For LG Twins veteran left-hander Lee Woo-chan (34), that fleeting moment felt long. The ball grazed the outer edge of the strike zone before being called a strike, and his earnest desire finally bore fruit. He also washed away the regret of not making last year's postseason (PS) roster.

Lee Woo-chan contributed to LG's 4-1 victory in Game 1 of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO Postseason (PS) Wild Card Series against Doosan Bears, held at Seoul Jamsil Baseball Stadium on the 14th, by pitching two-thirds of an inning with one walk and two strikeouts without allowing a run.

LG, which finished fourth in the regular season, advanced to the Junior Playoffs for the fourth time in their Wild Card appearances, following 2016, 2019, and 2020, thanks to this win. Meanwhile, fifth-place Doosan ended their autumn baseball campaign with a four-game losing streak in the Wild Card Series dating back to 2023.

The decisive moment came late in the game. LG took the lead with Austin Dean's (33) two-run homer in the bottom of the first inning and Carlos Karascon's (39) strong pitching, allowing just one run over six innings. However, after minimizing damage in the top of the seventh inning thanks to Park Hae-min's (36) excellent defense, LG found themselves in a tie situation again in the top of the eighth.

With LG leading 2-1 and one out and runners on second base in the top of the eighth, Manager Yeom Kyung-yeop (58) brought Lee Woo-chan into the game for An Jae-seok's (24) at-bat. Taking over the mound with a count of one ball, Lee threw three consecutive pitches for balls, issuing a walk. He instantly created a crisis with one out and runners on first and second base.

However, this was when Lee Woo-chan's true worth emerged. The batter was Doosan foreign hitter Union Severino (27). Lee insisted on attacking the outer zone, mixing fastballs and sliders. His seventh pitch, a slider, grazed the outer edge of the ABS (Automated Ball-Strike) strike zone. Severino watched the ball go by, but the result was a looking strikeout.

The same applied to his matchup against Ryu Seung-min (23). He mixed fastballs and sliders in a full-count battle, and precisely placed his seventh pitch, a slider, at the top of the strike zone. As Ryu did not swing, another looking strikeout was called. Ending the inning with consecutive strikeouts from two outs and runners on first and second base, Jamsil Stadium was filled with cheers. LG added two runs in the bottom of the eighth to secure the win.

Speaking after the game, Lee Woo-chan recalled the situation, saying, "I think I had a strong thought that 'I can do it' before throwing. It was a situation where giving up a run would tie the game, so I was even more desperate."

In particular, the brief moment until the strike call left a strong impression. Lee Woo-chan smiled and said, "Honestly, so many thoughts came to mind within 0.something seconds," explaining, "Against Severino, I threw with the absolute conviction that it would be called a strike. I didn't really feel like he was trying to hit, so I went in more boldly."

An interesting remark also emerged. When asked why he allowed a walk to the first batter, Lee Woo-chan replied, "I did it on purpose. A double play is only possible if there is a runner on first base, so it was intentional." He added, "There was room for one more runner to reach first base, so I just wanted to avoid giving up a hit."

This year's autumn baseball is even more special for Lee Woo-chan. Last year, he unfortunately did not make the postseason roster. He reflected, "Perhaps because of that, I feel like I can enjoy it more this year. The feelings I had last year helped me a lot in preparing for this year."

There was also a period when baseball was not easy for him. The decline over the two to three years following his career high in 2022 was no small trial. Lee Woo-chan revealed, "Before, I had many negative thoughts during difficult times. But now, I try to enjoy it. As I get older, I feel that this time is precious the moment I step onto the pitcher's mound. I think that has shown up as a positive influence."

Family support played a big role in helping him endure that time. He said, "My parents and wife gave me so much strength. I think that helped me endure a bit more," adding with a smile, "Actually, my pitches are getting faster as I get older. Baseball is starting to feel fun now."

LG's bullpen is also in a difficult situation. Son Ju-young (28), who recorded 31 saves this season, was excluded from the Wild Card roster due to herniated discs in his neck at levels 6 and 7. Manager Yeom announced a collective closing system before the game, and Lee Woo-chan played an important role in filling that gap.

Even so, Lee Woo-chan showed faith in his teammates. He said, "Our bullpen has great depth even with many players out, so I wasn't worried. Our pitching coach talks a lot about the strengths of our players, so everyone is encouraged." He added, "Many players have experienced two championships in the past three years. That experience cannot be ignored. Everyone seems to enjoy difficult situations."

LG's next opponent is the KIA Tigers. Lee Woo-chan expressed his expectations, saying, "If we keep this momentum going up, I think we can win with a good result. The atmosphere among the players is very good. Experienced senior players are leading from the front, so it feels like good energy is being passed on."

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original