I don’t even remember my last win as a starter. (laughs)”
I finally got my first win of the season. That’s also a starting win. It has been 720 days since the game against Sajik Lotte on September 12, 2021. This is the story of Kiwoom’s right-handed pitcher Kim Seon-ki (32). After moving between starting and bullpen positions, he joined the starting rotation last month and achieved a valuable victory. Kim Seon-ki has now clearly captured the attention of the head coach as a member of Kiwoom’s starting lineup.
Kim Seon-gi started on the second day of the 2023 KBO League’s three-week weekend game against KT held at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on the 2nd and led the team to a 3-0 victory with 6 scoreless innings. As a result, Kiwoom beat Hanwha and maintained ‘9th place’.
On this day, Seongi Kim pitched 6 innings, allowing 3 hits, 2 walks, 2 strikeouts, and no runs. He blocked KT’s batting lineup by throwing a mix of fastballs with a maximum speed of 146km, sliders, slurbs, and curves. He joined the starting lineup last month and recorded two losses in his previous two starts, but he clearly impressed coach Hong Won-ki with his aggressive pitching. And he won in his third appearance, completing the team’s ‘three consecutive wins’.
Kim Seon-gi said, “I don’t even remember my last starting win. “I think I got good results because I just pitched hard and actively,” he said. “My goal was to pitch a long inning today.” “It’s even better that I was able to pitch 6 innings and win,” he said.
After playing for the Seattle Mariners in the United States, he was selected in the second first round of the 2018 KBO rookie draft and wore a Kiwoom uniform. He received attention as a promising player, but did not show great performance. Although it may be late, he is now solidifying his position as one of the pillars of Kiwoom’s selection. Moreover, as the team’s ‘ace’ Ahn Woo-jin ended the season due to injury, the head coach’s trust deepened.
Kiwoom coach Hong Won-ki said, “Our starting lineup is Ariel Jurado, Ian McKinney, and Kim Seon-ki. “We are considering a bullpen day for Ahn Woo-jin’s position, but I think we need to think more about the remaining two positions,” he said.안전놀이터
He was definitely selected as a starter. Responsibility and burden are bound to increase. Seongi Kim said, “I don’t feel much pressure. I just try to enjoy the game by fighting each batter on the mound. “I just want to throw harder,” he said. “The coach also told me to actively use the balls I can throw well and win more aggressively. “I think our active competition today led to good results,” he said emphatically.
There are about 20 games left until the end of the season. This means that Kim Seon-ki has at most 4 to 5 starting pitch opportunities left. Because he has tasted a valuable first win, his determination for the remaining games is bound to be special.
He said, “To prepare for the selection, I ran hard and trained my lower body harder to build up my endurance and physical strength.” “I will throw hard to create a foundation,” he pledged. He added, “I will maintain the starting rotation until the end of the season and pitch well.”