The clock, which stopped on September 28, 22, returns after 921 days and 928 days
The clock, which stopped on September 28, 22, returns after 921 days and 928 days
Blog Article
After seven innings in 921 days, he won his first start in 928 days. KT Wiz pitcher So Hyung-joon is back healthy.메이저놀이터
Cho Hyung-joon started the home game against the Samsung Lions of the 2025 Shinhan Bank SOL Bank KBO League at KT Wiz Park in Suwon on the 13th, and pitched 94 pitches in five innings, allowing five hits, four walks, five strikeouts, and one run (non-earned). Cho Hyung-joon, who came down to the mound in a 6-1 lead, won his first victory of the season as his team won 6-5.
It has been about two years and seven months since So Hyung-joon won the starting title. It has been 928 days since he won the game against the Doosan Bears in Suwon on September 28, 2022. At that time, So Hyung-joon became the winning pitcher with seven scoreless innings. So Hyung-joon, who played seven innings in 921 days while playing seven scoreless innings against the Incheon SSG Landers on the 6th, gained momentum by winning the starting title in the very next game.
As records show, the past two years have been like two lost years for Cho. Cho, who was a pillar of KT's starting lineup as the leader of the 2020 Rookie of the Year and the 2021 combined championship, went through an ordeal when he was out for the season with an elbow injury in early 2023. He took the entire 2023 off after undergoing Tommy John surgery, and only returned in the second half of 2024. Cho finished his return season by taking on only the role of a bullpen, not a starter.
He returned to the starting lineup after two years. He has set a new record of "long time." He successfully returned to the starting lineup (more than six innings and less than three earned runs) by allowing three runs in six innings at the match against Doosan Bears in Suwon, which was his return match on March 26. It was also his first time in two and a half years. He has since had seven innings and won starts. All of them turned back the clock, which had stopped on September 28, 2022.
As it is one of the starting positions after a long rehabilitation training session, So Hyung-joon is throwing the ball in fun without multiplier stress. On the 7th, he said, "I'm happy to play as a starter. It's good to be able to feel the fun of baseball again, which I forgot during rehabilitation," and he said again after the game on the 13th, "I feel much more familiar and comfortable with the starting line." However, he added, "I am well aware of the hardships of bullpen pitchers (running to the bullpen last year), so I vowed that it is important to take responsibility for the innings as a starter this season."
Although he won his first victory after many twists and turns, he has no ambition to win individually. "I was under stress because my team couldn't win the last two games, but today I could have saved a little by winning," Cho said, putting his team's victory ahead of the season. "I didn't set my target number of wins even before the season. I decided not to focus too much on winning (individual) games. I just want to do my best without getting sick," Cho added.
He is also in good physical condition. KT's coaching staff is managing the number of pitches that Soh Dong-joon has returned to as a starting pitcher, but since the second game, Soh has been told that he can pitch up to 90 pitches, which has been recognized by the training part and the coaching staff. And he threw 94 pitches on the day, showing off his robustness. "I am fine until the next day after the starting pitcher," he said, showing off his healthy body.
Dae-hyeong-jun is back healthy. He has one goal. "I will throw it with the mindset of contributing to the team's victory," he said, renewing his commitment for the new season.