Shin-soo Choo, who had liquidated his life in the US Major League and joined the KBO League, made his official debut, but did not produce any hits.
Choo Shin-soo was selected as the No. 2 designated hitter in the demonstration game with NC Dinos held at the NC Park in Changwon, Gyeongnam on the 21st.
Choo Shin-soo retreated with two strikeouts and a floating ball in the outfield in three at-bats.
NC’s new foreign starting pitcher Wes Parsons has announced his performance this season with three innings, two hits, one walk, four strikeouts, including three innings, two hits, and four strikeouts, including turning Choo Shin-soo into strikeouts.
Song Myung-ki, who made the debut, kept 4 innings with 2 hits, 1 walk, 1 strikeout and 1 run, raising expectations for this season starting as a starter.
NC won 11-3 with 14 hits, including three home runs from Minwoo Park, Heedong Kwon, and Myungki Lee.
On the other hand, SSG starter Moon Seung-won collapsed with 8 hits (3 home runs) in 2 innings, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts and 7 runs.
SSG’s first command tower, coach Kim Won-hyung, lost his first official KBO match.
At the Sajik Stadium in Busan, the Lotte Giants, who were enthusiastic about’big rookie’ Kim Jin-wook, defeated Kiwoom Heroes 6-1.
Jin-wook Kim, who joined Lotte in the second nomination of rookies last year, stepped forward as a starting pitcher and blocked 2⅔innings with no hits and no run-offs.
It was a bit unfortunate that he allowed two walks, but he blocked the Kiwoom strike line by throwing the ball at a maximum speed of 146 km/h, the slider, and the curve evenly.
Lotte’s lead hitter at the end of the 1st inning took the lead by making a solo home run against Kiwoom starter Ahn Woo-jin.
In the 3rd inning, Son Ah-seop added 1 point, and in the 5th inning, Dixon Machado hit a solo home run in the middle of the left, leading to 3-0.
Kiwoom was behind 0-6 and in the beginning of the ninth inning, Kim Soo-hwan hit a one-point home run against Lotte finisher Kim Won-joong to avoid a loss.
Kiwoom Ahn Woo-jin, who challenged the starting pitcher this season, threw up to 5 innings and scored 3 runs with 5 hits including 2 home runs.
Kiwoom’s special rookie pitcher Jae-young Jang also appeared, but during the ⅔innings, he missed expectations with three runs with two hits and three walks.
Jang Jae-young, who received the highest amount among rookies this year with a down payment of 900 million won, threw the ball at the fastest speed of 153 km/h, but his control was a problem.
In Jamsil Stadium, kt wiz defeated Doosan Bears 4-2.
Last year’s rookie kt So-Jun So-Jun checked his condition by blocking with 6 hits and 2 runs in 4 innings.
However, Doosan starter Lee Young-ha was replaced with a left foot hit by kt Kang Baek-ho’s batted ball at the beginning of the first inning.
Lee Young-ha, who faced 4 batters, scored 4 runs with 3 hits and 1 walk without catching 1 out count.
The kt main gun Kang Baek-ho recorded three hits in three at-bats.
In Daegu, where the slaughter battle took place, the Samsung Lions beat the KIA Tigers 10-7.
At the end of the 8th inning against Samsung, Park Seung-gyu scored a point for an opponent’s error, and then Park Seung-gyu broke the game with a two-point home run.
Samsung starter David Buchanan showed off the ace’s dignity by blocking 4 innings with 4 hits.
KIA starter Kim Hyun-soo showed the possibility of giving only one point with three four-and-a-half without hits during 3⅔innings.
Hanwha Eagles beat the LG Twins 3-2 with Park Jung-hyun’s ending home run at the end of the 9th inning.
Hanwha starter Ryan Carpenter hit 3⅔ innings, 1 hit, 2 walks, 8 strikeouts, and strikeoutless points, while Nick Kingham scored 3 hits (1 home run) 5 strikeouts and 2 runs (2 own runs) in 3⅔ innings.
LG starter Casey Kelly threw 69 balls in 3⅔innings, struggling with 3 hits, 3 walks, 1 strikeout and no run.
(Photo = Yonhap News)