Song Eun-beom (40) has made a surprise comeback as an active player. Why did the Samsung Lions recruit a veteran pitcher again with the strongest backdoor trio of 717 saves in total.
Samsung said on the 25th, “We signed a contract with pitcher Song Eun-beom for an annual salary of 50 million won and an option of 30 million won for the rest of this season to strengthen the bullpen.”
He joined the SK Wyverns (current SSG Landers) through the first nomination in 2003 and recorded 88-95-57 with 27 saves and an ERA of 4.57 in 680 games in 21 seasons, but the recruitment of Song Eun-beom, who threw only four games and took off his clothes in the first team last year, was surprising news. 먹튀검증
Ahead of this season, Samsung focused on strengthening its backdoor policy in the free agent market. Having suffered 38 come-from-behind defeats last year, Samsung ended up keeping Oh Seung-hwan (42), an internal FA, and recruited Kim Jae-yoon (34) and Lim Chang-min (39), the closer of KT Wiz and Kiwoom Heroes.
Oh ranks first in this category with 25 saves, while Kim Jae-yoon and Lim Chang-min rank first and second in this category with 22 holds and 21 holds. Nevertheless, ERA was somewhat disappointing with 4.01, 4.02, and 4.33, respectively. That was also the reason why he tied for first with 18 saves. His slump was attributed to his physical challenges as he played 42 ⅔ innings, 47 ⅓ and 35 innings.
In that sense, Song Eun-beom has been recruited, but many wonder whether he will be able to do it again on the professional stage. Song Eun-beom made a surprise appearance in the audition for the strongest baseball, which aired in April. Lee Dae-ho, who played catch with Song Eun-beom, said, “The ball has power,” and allowed him to pass the second round after just four pitches. Song Eun-beom expressed confidence in his main weapon to the point that he said, “I saved his fighting spirit.”
Song Eun-beom, who reunited with his former teacher Kim Sung-geun, had to drink the pain of being eliminated amid the evaluation that he was “sad to be arrested,” even though he was well-received with his perfect control.
Samsung, which has been preparing to strengthen additional pitchers since the beginning of the season, added Song Eun-beom to the Gyeongsan Ballpark rehabilitation team in mid-May. The team supported the team to train until the team is in good physical condition to take the test, and recently signed a formal contract after passing the final test through ball pitching and live pitching. Currently, the team is conducting physical and technical training to minimize the gap.
“I was confident that I would be able to play well in the first division. I judged that the team would be a chasing team within the first division or a ball that could be sufficiently blocked in such a situation,” Lee Jong-yeol, the general manager, told Star News in a telephone interview right after Song was recruited. “In particular, the maximum speed of the fighting spirit in the body was up to 143 kilometers,” he said. “Considering my experience, I thought that I could play as many balls as I want now.”
“We need to prevent a winning game and situations when it is important. Song’s strength is that he has the ability to make double plays when facing a crisis of fighting spirit,” Lee said. “Young players with little experience often run away from the outside in such situations. Then, they may be forced to allow walks or long balls.”
“The fact that bullpen resources such as Choi Ji-kwang and Hwang Dong-jae are improving is largely attributable to seniors,” he said on the reason why he recruited a 40-year-old veteran at a time when the Three Musketeers are guarding the back door. “There is advice from coaches, but I am learning how to train, prepare before a game, and how to throw in a tough situation. Young players are needed, but we also need experienced players. I thought it was a necessary force to prepare for fall.”
After signing the contract, Song said, “Thank you to the club for trusting and giving me the opportunity. I will communicate with young players and help the team.”
With 47 games to go until the end of the regular season, Samsung is ranked third with 50 wins, 45 losses and two draws. Attention is focusing on the outcome of Samsung’s recruitment of Song Eun-beom, who will play in the fall baseball league for the first time in three years and is dreaming of winning again.
