‘150 km bang!’ 22-year-old foster player’s thrilling debut victory… “Because my mother came first.”
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“My mother came to my intuition for the first team game I threw. I am thrilled to achieve my first victory on such a day.”
Doosan Bears right-hander Choi Ji-gang (22) expressed his feelings about winning his first thrilling victory on the first team stage. Choi Ji-kang pitched in relief at the beginning of the 11th inning against the Lotte Giants at Jamsil Baseball Stadium on the 1st, losing 9-10, with 1 out and 1st and 2nd base, and completely blocked it with 1 strikeout and no run in ⅔ innings, winning 12-10 at the end of the 11th inning. laid the foundation for Choi Ji-gang reported his first valuable individual win after three first-team appearances, including his last season.
Choi Ji-gang graduated from Gangneung Yeongdong University and joined Doosan in 2022 as a training player. While at Gwangju Dongsung High School, he showed off his potential as a third baseman with long hitting power, but was turned away from the rookie draft and turned to a sidearm pitcher at Gangneung Yeongdong University, aiming for a chance, but failed to be nominated as a professional again at the time of college graduation. Instead, Doosan, who had been eyeing Choi Ji-gang, offered a contract as a foster player, and now he has transformed into a three-quarter type right-hander who throws a fast ball reaching 150 km per hour.
Choi Ji-gang did not miss the opportunity that came with difficulty and seized it tightly. In the top of the 11th inning, left-hander Lee Byung-hun gave Rex an RBI and timely hit, turning the score 9-10 and giving Lotte a complete turn. Doosan coach Lee Seung-yeop chose Choi Ji-gang here, and Choi finished the inning by striking out Han Dong-hee on a swing and catching the next hitter, Ko Seung-min, with a floating ball in center field. The fastball hit a maximum of 150km that day, but all three pitches were balls, and he found a breakthrough by actively mixing the slider.
Thanks to this, Doosan seized the opportunity to end the game at the end of the 11th inning. Following consecutive hits by Soo-bin Su and Gyeong-min Heo, Jose Rojas’ superiority of 3 runs in the 1st and 3rd bases made it 12-10. Choi Ji-gang had to enjoy his first win relatively quietly, as attention was focused on Lee Seung-yeop, who won his managerial debut match, and Lohas, the protagonist of the final home run.
In a phone interview with Spotify News after the game, Choi Ji-gang said, “I was in a crisis, so I tried to throw a little more. I feel good to win. “It has more meaning,” he said. 메이저사이트
His debut first victory ball had so many owners that he did not receive a real commemorative ball. It was the winning pitch for manager Lee Seung-yeop’s debut match and also a commemorative pitch for Rojas, who hit a home run to end the opening game for the first time in the history of the Doosan club. A club official gave coach Lee a commemorative ball that he had received from the crowd, but manager Lee decided to present the ball to Rojas.
Infielder Shin Seong-hyeon gave Choi Ji-gang a commemorative pitch. Choi Ji-kang smiled as he replied, “(Shin) Seong-hyeon took care of the ball to commemorate the first win. It’s not the game-ending ball, but I’m really grateful. I’m happy in many ways.”
In fact, Choi Ji-kang was not on the Australian spring camp roster, so he certainly did not make an eye for Lee. Still, he did not get frustrated and built up his body steadily at the Icheon 2nd Army Camp, and played an active role in 4 exhibition games with 1 save, 1 hold, 4 innings, and an average ERA of 2.25, and was honored with the first opening entry in his life.
Choi Ji-gang said, “I couldn’t go to the spring camp, but that’s not something I can do. In Icheon, I did weight training and running diligently and prepared only what I could. I think the results of my hard preparation are coming out now.”
The day he won his first debut, his mother was with him in the crowd, making it even more meaningful. Choi Ji-kang said, “My mother came to my intuition for the first team game I threw. I am thrilled to have achieved my first victory on such a day. My mother also praised me after the game, saying, ‘I’m proud of you.’ I will become a better son in the future.” did.
The goal is to continue the victorious spirit of the opening game. Choi Ji-kang said, “It’s my first time throwing in front of a full crowd, but I’m not very nervous. I’ll show you how to aggressively catch a batter without avoiding a game like today (the 1st).”
“My mother came to my intuition for the first team game I threw. I am thrilled to achieve my first victory on such a day.” Doosan Bears right-hander Choi Ji-gang (22) expressed his feelings about winning his first thrilling victory on the first team stage. Choi Ji-kang pitched in relief at the beginning of the…