SSG veteran right-hander Kim Sang-soo (33) will serve as a temporary finishing pitcher for the month of April.
SSG coach Kim Won-hyung met with reporters after the opening match with Lotte was canceled due to rain at Incheon SSG Landers Field on the 3rd and said, “Kim Sang-soo will take over the finishing role for one month in April.”
In the beginning, coach Kim had in mind right-handed fireballer Seo Jin-yong as the finishing pitcher this season. However, Seo Jin-yong was sluggish with an ERA of 10.13 in 2.2 innings in the three demonstration games this year.
Director Kim said, “Seo Jin-yong hasn’t come up with the ball,” he said. He said he would watch at practice and demonstration games, but when it’s good, he can’t get any restraints. That’s why I’m going to make it back in a comfortable situation.”
Director Kim said, “I have no intention of leaving Kim Sang-soo to finish the full season,” regarding Kim Sang-soo’s temporary finish. He said, “Because I continued to take on the pilgrimage team at Kiwoom, I decided to finish it.”
As Director Kim explained, Kim Sang-soo played an important role in Kiwoom. In particular, Kim Sang-soo was responsible for at least 50 innings for five consecutive years from 2016 to 2020, and achieved 40 hold in 2019. Kim Sang-soo wore an SSG uniform last winter as an FA (free contract) sign and trade.
SSG has had a stumbling block on the plan to finish the new season, but the original finisher, Ha Jae-hoon, who became the save king (36 saves) in the 2019 season, is showing a rapid recovery.
Director Kim said, “The rehabilitation has been going well since the Jeju camp. The player himself is working tremendously, and the coaching staff now has only two games left on the desired schedule. If I think it’s okay in the second game next week, I will judge again.”
Incheon = Reporter Jeong Se-young [email protected]