Koo Ja-wook's hit is not the only good news! 'One-two punch' Fedde and Hurrado also pass velocity check → Samsung Lions' fall baseball preparations on track

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

The Samsung Lions' preparations for fall baseball are progressing smoothly without hindrance. Following "Captain" Koo Ja-wook (33), who returned from injury and recorded a satisfying hit in his first at-bat of the scrimmage, foreign "one-two punch" pitchers Chris Fedde and Ariel Hurrado, who will lead the postseason mound, also confirmed their live velocity and pitch quality, signaling a green light.

The Samsung Lions, led by manager Park Jin-man, held an internal scrimmage on the 19th at Daegu Samsung Lions Park to prepare for the first game of the playoffs (PO) scheduled for the 25th. The main goal was to minimize the gap in live-game experience and boost the condition of key players.

The scene that most relieved fans came from Koo Ja-wook's bat. According to the Samsung team, Koo Ja-wook, who started as the third batter and designated hitter for the White Team, produced a clean hit against Hurrado in his first at-bat of the first inning. In his third at-bat in the sixth inning, he drew a walk against Sato, demonstrating calm plate discipline as well.

Koo Ja-wook, who had been focused on rehabilitation from a hamstring injury since the match against Hanwha in Daegu on the 30th of last month, displayed perfect hitting sense in his first live game in 19 days. Koo Ja-wook, who performed brilliantly this season with a .371 batting average, 15 home runs, 102 RBIs, and an OPS (on-base percentage + slugging percentage) of 1.039 in 114 games, has prepared himself to erase the nightmare of missing the Korea Series due to a knee injury in the second game of the 2024 season PO. Following manager Park Jin-man's plan, he is scheduled to focus on hitting as a designated hitter while reducing the burden of outfield defense, but his return to the lineup alone is expected to instantly double the weight of the batting order. In particular, playing a live game for the first time in about three weeks since the home game against the Hanwha Eagles on September 30 is clearly good news.

As welcome as Koo Ja-wook's revival was the perfect pitch quality check of the one-two punch. According to materials provided by the Samsung team, Fedde, who started for the White Team, pitched a scoreless perfect game over four innings. He threw a total of 62 pitches, reaching a maximum velocity of 150.1 km/h. In addition to fastballs (20 pitches), he skillfully deployed various pitch types including cutters (13 pitches), changeups (10 pitches), curves (9 pitches), two-seamers (7 pitches), and sweepers (3 pitches), signaling that he has completed his preparations for the fall stage.

Hurrado's pitching performance as the Blue Team starter was also sufficient to receive a passing grade. Hurrado, who recorded a maximum velocity of 147.6 km/h, solidly guarded the mound with one run allowed over five innings. He increased his pitch count to 90 pitches, completely washing away concerns about his inning endurance. By mixing curves (28 pitches), changeups (24 pitches), fastballs (20 pitches), two-seamers (15 pitches), and cutters (3 pitches), he fully demonstrated his unique ability to induce ground balls and control pitch speed.

The firepower of the batting line also blazed. On this day, the Blue Team and White Team each hit 12 hits, showcasing peak hitting form. Their power was also notable. Veteran catcher Kang Min-ho, infield core Lee Jae-hyun, and outfielder Kim Seong-yoon all activated their home run cannons in succession, significantly boosting their hitting sense.

It was a first scrimmage where all three elements aligned: Koo Ja-wook's healthy return, the confirmation of the one-two punch's heavy velocity and pitch quality, and the big guns of the middle of the batting order. Having taken a perfect mock exam, the Samsung Lions will hold another scrimmage on the 23rd before finalizing their playoff roster. They will then enter the highly anticipated fall festival with the first game of the playoffs on the 25th.

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.View Original