For the LG Twins, kt Wiz native ace Koh Young-pyo was feared. Koh Young-pyo, who returned from military service, flew 3 wins and 1 loss with an average ERA of 1.73 in 6 games against LG in the 2021 season.
Last year,안전놀이터 Koh Young-pyo’s ‘LG killer’ instinct seemed to continue. In the Jamsil game on April 19, the first confrontation with LG in the 2022 season, the beast girl won the victory with a perfect throw in 7 innings without a loss.
However, the LG lineup was no longer easily defeated by Koh Young-pyo. Koh Young-pyo laughed in the first game with LG in the 2022 season, but struggled with an ERA of 7.11 with 1 win and 1 loss in 4 starts.
In particular, the final match of the regular league left a big scar on both Ko Young-pyo and kt. If kt had won this game, it could have gone straight to the semi-playoffs with 3rd place, but Koh Young-pyo, who started as a starting pitcher, collapsed with 4 runs in 3 innings and finally knelt down to LG. In the final ranking of 4th place, he started fall baseball from the wild card match, and was caught by Kiwoom Heroes in the semi-playoff and was frustrated to advance to the playoffs.
As if gaining confidence against Koh Young-pyo, the LG lineup succeeded in attacking in the first confrontation of the 2023 season. Koh Young-pyo was beaten with 12 hits, 3 walks, 3 strikeouts and 8 runs in 4⅔ innings against LG in Jamsil on the 18th. In the first start after the opening, he was demolished before the 5th inning and bowed his head.
KT coach Lee Kang-cheol found the cause of Koh Young-pyo’s sluggish performance against LG in the low speed of his fastball. As the fast ball speed formed in the early 140km range falls to the mid-130km range, the power of the main weapon, the changeup, is inevitably reduced by half.
Prior to the match against Doosan on the 19th, Coach Lee said, “Ko Young-pyo needs a fastball to buy a changeup. In the match against LG the previous day, Koh Young-pyo’s fastball speed dropped from the second inning. The changeup is inevitably visible to batters. Last year’s regular league final match was similar. It collapsed for a reason,” he explained.
Koh Young-pyo’s attempt to change his pitching form is also believed to have had an impact on the drop in fastball speed. In preparation for this season, Koh Young-pyo changed his pitching form to improve his fastball speed, but failed as a result. He has recently returned to his normal form and is preparing for his next appearance.
Director Lee emphasized, “The speed of the fastball is important, but in the end it is the end of the ball. Even a fastball in the mid-130km range must survive and enter the strike zone.”
However, coach Lee said, “Recently, our team’s situation is not good, so there are parts where the starting pitchers try not to give points somehow, but it is difficult.” “The bottom line is the team atmosphere. I think I might be able to pitch,” he said.