“After 5 years as a mercenary, the opposing team’s strength analysis is complete. In order to survive in the KBO league, you have to raise your speed or create two or more strategies of your own (to prepare for).”
Kiwoom Heroes coach Hong Won-ki gave a clear message of warning to long-lived foreign pitcher Eric Yokishi.
Yokishi is a left-handed foreign pitcher active in the KBO League from the 2019 season to this year. Until last year, his career record in the KBO League was 51 wins, 33 losses, and an ERA of 2.71 in 118 appearances. In particular, in the 2020 season, he ranked first in the average ERA (2.14), and in the 2021 season, he tied for first place in the most wins (16 wins) and has been active as Kiwoom’s ace.
However, Yokishi has been showing a somewhat ups and downs pitching this season. His performance was 5 wins and 3 losses with an earned run average of 4.39 in 12 games (65.2 innings) based on the 8th. Even in his most recent appearance against the Gocheok LG Twins on the 6th (1-9 Kiwoom loss), he did not impress with 10 hits, 2 walks and 6 runs in 4.2 innings.
In response, coach Hong Won-ki Kiwoom, who met ahead of the match against Gocheok LG on the 7th (5-5 draw), said, “If you make the first point in a close match, you will be able to concentrate, but yesterday (6th) was at the beginning of (Yokishi). I think I lost my concentration after conceding points,” he said. He raised his voice, saying, “In order for me to survive in the KBO league, I have to increase my speed or create (prepare for) two or more strategies of my own.”
At the same time, coach Hong said, “(Yokishi) is a ground ball judo pitcher. He has been doing the same pattern for 5 years, but the fact that no ground balls come out and right hits come out is that there is an obvious problem. If he does not prepare, he will not survive in the end,” he hoped for Yokishi.
In the revival of Yokishi, the most important factor that coach Hong Won-ki picked was stable control.
He said, “(May 19, when Yokishi was sluggish) Gwangju (KIA Tigers match, 8 runs in 3 innings), as well as yesterday (6th), there is no big difference in the speed itself. In the end, it seems to be controllability,” he said. “When Seung-woon follows, the ball crosses the border line and enters (the strike zone), but when it is bad, it is driven to the center.”
Director Hong continued, “(Among Yokishi’s balls), most of the balls the opponent hits well are misplaced pitches. As for the type of pitch, I made the best choice as a result, but it is a matter of exactly which timing it goes in,” he said. However, he emphasized that it is the difference between whether or not the deciding ball that you have to push harder in the game is accurately entered.”
Yokishi was dropped from the first team entry on the 7th. However, this is not due to sluggishness, but a planned procedure. This season, Kiwoom is giving rest to the pitchers who are building the starting lineup. Director Hong Won-ki is also not completely abandoning his faith in Yokishi.
Coach Hong said, “(Yokishi) is a very well-prepared player,” and hoped for his revival, saying, “I hope he prepares well.”메이저놀이터
Kiwoom is tied for 8th place with KT Wiz (20 wins, 2 draws, 30 losses) with 22 wins, 1 draw and 33 losses before the game on the 8th, but An Woo-jin (3 wins, 4 losses, 1.87 ERA) – Ariel Hurado (3 wins, 7 losses, average ERA) 3.10) – Choi Won-tae (3-3, ERA 3.12) – Jeong Chan-heon (1-3, ERA 3.58) – the starting lineup is clearly competitive. In addition, if Yokishi returns to its original form, it will be possible to form the strongest starting lineup in the league.
Will Yokishi be able to return to the starting lineup and show stable pitching, as coach Hong Won-ki hoped? This is also an essential element in the rebound of Kiwoom.
