“It was something I vaguely thought about….”
Moon Dong-ju 문동주 (20-Hanwha Eagles) has been an anchor of the Hanwha starting rotation this season, going 6-6 with a 3.47 ERA in 16 games.
The 2022 first-round draft pick showed promise in his first year, going 1-3 with a 5.65 ERA in 28⅔ innings pitched in 13 games.
Pitchers are eligible for Rookie of the Year honors if they do not pitch more than 30 innings within their first five years in the organization. With his first-year experience under his belt, Moon is the favorite to win Rookie of the Year.
As a manager’s pick to join the All-Stars, Moon received many autograph requests at the fan signing. In the sudden downpour, he stood in the rain and showed his sincerity by signing autographs for fans.
When he appeared on the field, the fans cheered even louder.
“It’s all fun,” Moon said of his first All-Star Game outing. It’s all a new experience,” he smiled.
Having accomplished his first goal in the first half, he felt a little lighter: “I’m satisfied that I finished the first half without getting injured. I feel like I accomplished my goal.”
While he talked about staying injury-free, he also accomplished a goal that was on his mind. In April, he threw a fastball that reached 160 kilometers per hour, setting a new record for a Korean athlete.
Moon said, “I was only vaguely thinking about 160 kilometers, but it feels good. I remember throwing 160 kilometers in the first half,” he said.
“I think it’s because I threw 160 kilometers,” he laughed when asked about the secret of his popularity.
Hanwha parted ways with Carlos Suvero at the beginning of the season and replaced him with Choi Won-ho.
After a period of adjustment, Hanwha went 7-3 in its final 10 games of the first half and became a key player in the second half of the season.
“We need to do better in the second half of the season,” Moon said, “and I’ll work harder to make sure I don’t become a nobody in the team.
At the same time, when asked about the Rookie of the Year, he said, “There’s still a lot of season left. Rookie of the Year is not important,” he said, emphasizing once again that he would prioritize team performance. 안전카지노사이트