Spray good enough balls to start the season right away.”
Hong Kun-hee, who will be responsible for the back door of the 2023 season of the Doosan Bears, prepares for the opening game of the regular league on April 1st with the command tower’s infinite trust. With the opening day approaching in a week, he received a passing grade in his pitching and was virtually dropped as a finishing pitcher.
On the 21st, Hong Kun-hee recorded a scoreless inning in an exhibition match against KT Wiz in Suwon. Since the start of the demonstration game before the Lotte Giants on the 13th and the NC Dinos on the 15th, he has been showing perfect pitches every time he pitches with 3 hits, 3 innings, 1 hit, 3 strikeouts and no runs.
As Hong Gun-hee showed off his good condition, new Doosan coach Lee Seung-yeop relieved one worry about managing the 2023 season. If there are no variables such as injuries, Hong Kun-hee will take on the role of closer from the opening game.
Coach Lee spared his words about the starting rotation, opening entry, and best 9 fielder, saying, “I think I need to think a little more about it.”
Coach Lee said, “I don’t think my thoughts on the finishing pitcher will be different from those of people outside,” ahead of the Daejeon away demonstration game against the Hanwha Eagles on the 24th. sprinkled,” he praised.
Finishing is not an unfamiliar position for Hong Kun-hee. Last year, after the middle of the season, the position was upgraded from setup man to closer and harvested 18 saves.
However, this is the first time this year has started as a closer pitcher from the start of the season. Unlike going to the mound in the 9th inning save situation depending on the team situation, the 2023 season will face the opening game in a firm position as a closer.
As shown by the record of the demonstration game, Hong Kun-hee is waiting for the opening smoothly. Under the consideration of the coaching staff, he picked up his pace more slowly than other pitchers during the spring camp in Sydney, Australia in February.
Head coach Lee and Doosan pitching coach Jae-Hoon Jung carefully adjusted the amount of training and the timing of putting them into practice,메이저놀이터 as Hong Kun-hee threw 193 innings, the most among bullpen pitchers in the team over the past three seasons.
Director Lee expressed his trust, saying, “I thought Hong Kun-hee’s pace was a bit slow at the beginning of spring camp, but he showed a very good condition from the end.
He also emphasized, “It is time for Hong Geon-hee to feel responsible in his position. I hope he throws with confidence rather than burden.”
