Will Jang have a chance to make a comeback.
Veteran pitcher Jang Pil-joon was recently notified of his release. On the 1st, Samsung announced that it would not renew contracts with pitchers Kim Tae-woo, Hong Jung-woo and Kim Si-hyun, infielder Kim Dong-jin, and outfielders Lee Jae-ho and Kim Dong-yeop, including Jang Pil-joon.
Samsung said, “In addition to this reorganization, we plan to focus on strengthening the team’s capabilities in the 2025 season through further maintenance.”
Jang wore the Samsung uniform as the ninth in the second round in 2015. Jang, who recorded four wins, six losses, four saves and nine holds with an ERA of 5.13 in 56 games in the 2016 season, kept the back door as Samsung’s closing pitcher with four wins, eight losses and 21 saves and three holds in 56 games in the 2017 season.
Since then, he has recorded 5 wins, 5 losses, 6 saves and 13 holds in 61 games in the 2018 season, and has been dispatched to the Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games and won the gold medal. In the 2019 season, he recorded the best ERA since his KBO League debut with a 3.62 ERA with 3 wins, 3 losses, 11 saves and 15 holds.
However, he began to show downward trajectory in the 2020 season. He recorded three losses and four holds and an ERA of 5.75 in 31 games and only posted three losses and an ERA of 5.70 in 19 games in the 2022 season. He played in 17 games in the 2023 season, but posted the worst record of one win, one loss and one hold and an ERA of 7.91.
He played in only one game during the 2024 season. He was on the roster for the opening two consecutive games against KT Wiz, but that was it. 스포츠토토
He took the mound in the bottom of the ninth inning in the second game of this season against the KT Wiz on March 24. At the time, starter Denny Reyes pitched six innings of six hits, one out and two strikeouts, one run, respectively. Kim Tae-hoon and Lee Jae-ik, who followed suit, also allowed no runs in each inning.
Jang did not lead his team on a comfortable path to victory. He took the mound at a wide margin of 11-1, but the game ended 11-8. Jang started off by giving up a hit to leadoff hitter Kang Baek-ho, and Hwang Jae-gyun was fouled to first base. However, after giving up a hit to Kim Joon-tae, he allowed runners on the second and third bases with one out due to wild pitches. Afterwards, he gave up an RBI infield single to Chun Sung-ho’s at-bat.
The crisis continued. He gave up an RBI double to Shin Bon-ki and an RBI infield hit to Bae Jeong-dae. In the end, Samsung had no choice but to replace him. Jang Pil-joon was lowered and Kim Dae-woo was raised. Kim Dae-woo sent Moon a fly ball to the second base, but failed to block two runners who Jang left behind. Jang’s loss increased to five. He allowed five hits and five runs during 0.1 innings. ERA 135.00.
In fact, he showed good performance at exhibition games, which was regrettable. Jang had zero earned run average with two holds in four exhibition games before the opening of the season. He allowed no runs in one inning against the Daejeon Hanwha Eagles on March 9, and no runs in one inning against the Daejeon Hanwha Eagles on March 10. He did not put any runners on base. He had one hit, two strikeouts and a scoreless hold in two innings against the Lotte Giants in Daegu on March 15, and pitched well in one inning against the Gwangju KIA Tigers on March 19. However, he failed to continue his performance at exhibition games into the regular season.
Since going down to the second division, he has never been seen in the first division. He had an ERA of zero, but only 4.2 innings in six games, and his last appearance in the game was against NC on July 10.
Samsung failed to advance to the postseason for five consecutive years from 2016 to 2020. At that time, Jang Pil-joon played in the most games among Samsung’s pitching staff. He pitched well during the dark ages. During the five years, he played in 265 games, recording 16 wins, 25 losses, 44 holds, 42 saves, and an ERA of 4.60.
Will Jang Pil-joon, who is 36 years old, have a chance to make a comeback.
