‘Surprise selection’ after 995 days, fifth-year lefty’s successful day at Japan minicamp with Kim Kwang-hyun
SSG Landers left-hander Baek Seung-geon had a successful day as he fulfilled his ‘surprise selection’ duties perfectly.
Baek Seung-geon started the sixth game of the 2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League against the Samsung Lions at SSG Landers Field in Incheon on 1 January and pitched four innings of two-hit ball, striking out two and walking one.
He didn’t make it to the fifth inning, which is one of the requirements for a winning pitcher, but he should be commended for his performance. He more than made up for it. On the day, SSG cruised to a 14-2 victory as Baek Seung-gun pitched four shutout innings and the bats exploded.
After the game, Baek Seung-gun said, “I was nervous because it was my first start in a long time, but I threw my pitches without avoiding the batters and it led to a good result.”토토사이트
In fact, Kim Kwang-hyun was initially scheduled to start the game. However, in the aftermath of the drinking controversy during the WBC, Baek Seung-gun took the mound as a ‘temporary starter’.
“Following the advice of my seniors and coaches, I didn’t think of myself as a starter, but simply as the first pitcher to go out,” he recalled.
It was the first time he pitched as a starter in 995 days since 9 September 2020 against the Incheon Kiwoom. Baek Seung-geon had been the closer this year after being discharged from the military in September last year. He followed Kim Kwang-hyun to Japan during the off-season and filled in well for the senior on the day.
He shut down the Samsung batting order without any real threats. In the first inning, he gave up a single to the first batter, Kim Hyun-jun. But he caught Kim trying to steal second, got Pirela to fly out to the catcher and Koo to pop out to centre field.
In the top of the fourth, Baek gave up a single to the first batter, Kim Hyun-joon. He then gave up a single to Pirela, but got Koo Ja-rook to fly out to left, Kang Min-ho to fly out to second and Lee Jae-hyun to ground out to the shortstop for a scoreless inning.
“I think I did my job for four innings rather than whether or not I pitched in the fifth,” he said. “I’m happy to be able to show my good pitching lately, and I want to continue to pitch well when the team needs me in any situation.”