Kim Jung-bin (27), a left-handed pitcher of the Shinsegae E-Mart Baseball Team, boasted a fresh pitch in his first live pitching.
On the 25th, Kim Jung-bin played a live pitching at the Emart Baseball Team Spring Camp held at Gangchanghak Baseball Stadium in Seogwipo City, Jeju Island. Live pitching is the final stage of training before starting the actual match. On this day, Kim Jung-bin threw a total of 32 balls.
After finishing the live pitching, Kim Jung-bin said, “As much as I prepared hard, I had strength in the ball. I am satisfied.” Pitching coach Jo Woong-cheon praised him, “I had a good ability to use fastball and changeup, and I threw a good ball with a good release point.”
Kim Jung-bin had his first full-time season after his professional debut last year. Kim Jung-bin played a role in the bullpen and threw 47.1 innings in 57 matches, leaving an average of 5.13 ERA with 1 win, 1 loss, 1 save and 10 hold. In particular, Kim Jeong-bin showed off his presence by holding a scoreless march for 22 consecutive games from the season opening game against Hanwha on May 5 last year to the LG game on June 26.
Kim Jung-bin was proudly named as the candidate for the spring camp this year. The four positions have already been decided. Wilmer Font, Arty LeWiki, Park Jong-hoon, and Moon Seung-won are in charge of the 1st to 4th selections. Director Kim Won-hyung is keeping in mind Kim Jung-bin, Su-min Su, Lee Kun-wook, and Oh Won-seok as the fifth candidates.
The advantage of Kim Jung-bin is the ball of change. Kim Jung-bin uses a straight ball and a left-handed batter’s curves and sliders flowing outward, and a right-handed batter’s changing-up outward. In particular, the curves are of high quality.
Data manager Park Yoon-seong of the management team showed the data of Rhapsodo from live pitching that day, saying, “Pitchers with a clear distinction between changing pitches are in the league. Kim Jung-bin’s phrase of change is clearly distinguished. In particular, Kim Jung-bin’s curve falls as the brakes are applied a lot. It rotates with the same axis of rotation as a fastball, but the direction is reversed. That’s why hitters can get confused with directball.”
Coach Jo Woong-cheon explained, “I am doing a lot of curve practice that Kim Jung-bin did not use last year, and the rotation and angle of the curve are good.”
Of course, Kim Jung-bin must overcome his persistent anxiety. Kim Jung-bin asked this. After Kim Jung-bin was named as the starting candidate, he greatly increased the number of pitches. It is to get a stable grip. Whenever you hit the bullpen mound, you throw 80 at a time. Kim Jung-bin threw the most balls in the team at this year’s spring camp.
Kim Jung-bin emphasized, “We are preparing to make a pitching form that can move consistently and release points to come out consistently.”
Seogwipo = Reporter Jeong Se-young