Kia Tigers is also alert to its No. 1 ranking in the league. The team quickly moved to gain momentum in the second half of the year. It sent five second-tier pitchers to the U.S. National Baseball Center.
According to Sports Seoul’s report, Kia sent five second-tier pitchers to the “Tread Athletic,” a baseball center in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are Yoo Seung-cheol (26), Kim Ki-hoon (24), Kim Hyun-soo (24), Kim Min-jae (21), and Cho Dae-hyun (19).
It is the first time that Kia sent a pitcher to a U.S. training center during this season. However, Kia has been paying keen attention to the pitcher’s move to the U.S. since its inauguration as general manager Shim Jae-hak. Ahead of this season, Kia sent its main pitcher Lee Eui-ri, Jeong Hae-young, Yoon Young-cheol, Kwak Do-gyu, and Hwang Dong-ha to its “Driveline” baseball center in the U.S.
The dispatch was also Kia’s first attempt. The outcome was successful. Notably, Kia’s closing pitcher Jung Hae-young was effective. He has displayed good performance in the league by boosting his pitching speed this season. Although we cannot guarantee that his driving speed will improve, all of the players he has visited are satisfied with the customized system.
Tread Athletic also has a similar system to Driveline. It is expected that the dispatched pitcher will balance his pitches and improve his speed.
It shows his willingness to put secret weapons into the competition for the championship in the second half of the year. Pitchers are exhausted by the heat of more than 30 degrees Celsius. KIA’s bullpen was shaken greatly while closer Jung Hae-young was absent.
Yoo Seung-cheol, Kim Ki-hoon, and Kim Hyun-soo can join the top team immediately and replace the exhausted bullpen. If the team makes progress through Tread Athletic, it will be a great help to the team’s V12 (which won its 12th championship in total). 안전놀이터
Yoo Seung-cheol, Kim Ki-hoon and Kim Hyun-soo returned to Korea on the afternoon of the 21st. Kim Min-jae and Cho Dae-hyun will stay at the center until the end of July. They will take the mound in the Futures League (second division) to adjust their sense of play and aim for the first division mound in the second half of the year.
