In his first full-time season, he’s already showing strong closing qualities. For SSG Landers closer Cho Byung-hyun, his time in the KBO is just beginning.
With a 2-0 lead in the ninth inning against the NC Dinos at NC Park in Changwon on Thursday, Cho pitched a perfect inning of one-hit ball with one strikeout and two walks to earn his third save of the season.
Cho Byung-hyun got the leadoff hitter, Kim Joo-won, to hit a fastball in the low 140s and then threw a five-pitch forkball on a one-pitch, two-strike count for a strikeout. Against Park Min-woo, two pitches were in the zone. But he settled down after catcher Lee Ji-young’s visit to the mound and induced a swinging strike with a 148-kilometer fastball on a full count.
But he wasn’t done. Two batters later, he gave up a straight ball to Seo Ho-chul out of nowhere. Manager Lee Sung-yong personally came to the mound to check on Cho Byung-hyun. But at the plate was Davidson, who leads the league in home runs this year (35). Davidson was one hit away from tying the game.
But Cho regained his composure and flied out to right field to end the game.
The scoreless save snapped the team’s five-game losing streak against Changwon this season.
Cho Byung-hyun said, “In a game that turned into a pitcher’s duel, it was great to be able to keep the game scoreless and lead the team to victory. Our record against NC had dropped a lot. It helped a lot that we tried to win no matter what,” he said, adding, “I felt more relaxed when we were down by two runs, but I had a strong feeling that I would keep a clean sheet no matter what. I felt comfortable going up.”
Selected with the 28th overall pick in the third round of the second round of the 2021 Rookie Draft, Cho rose to prominence last year with the Armed Forces Athletic Corps (Sangmu). He went 2-2 with a 2.25 ERA in 43 games and 44 innings with 17 saves and four holds. 메이저사이트 After the season, he was selected to the national team for the Asian Professional Baseball Championship (APBC) and the Asian Baseball Championship.
This year, in his first full-time season after leaving the military, he quickly moved up from the bullpen to the closer’s role. In the process, he set a record by striking out 10 batters in a row. On the last two days, he was promoted to the closer’s role, replacing former closer Moon Seung-won.
However,
In his first game after being promoted to the closer’s role, he struggled against Samsung Electronics. He gave up two runs (one earned) on two hits and a walk in ⅓ innings, earning a blown save and a loss.
It was a promising start for the closer. “We were down by one run at the time and Lee Sung-kyu hit a home run, and there were parts of the game where I was complacent. I think I improved and learned a lot from that game,” Cho Byung-hyun said. “When we’re at home, there’s still offense in the ninth inning, but when we’re away, there’s no more offense, so I think I feel more responsible and throw a little more focused.”
On this day, the tying run was Byung-hyun Cho. On top of that, there was one of the league’s best hitters at the plate who could really send a ball that couldn’t come back. However, Cho Byung-hyun was more determined to win the game. “It was too bad that I gave up a straight ball to Seo Ho-chul. Ji-young came up and told me it was okay to throw as hard as I could with my chest, so that’s what I did,” he said, emphasizing, “No matter how many home runs Davidson is hitting, I think I was a little more confident because I knew he wasn’t hitting me.”
Cho is enjoying his time as a closer and wants to get better.
“I think there are more tight games and it’s more thrilling and fun,” he said. “Cho see and feel a lot of things from what my seniors do. I want to learn how to play a skillful game, and if I don’t run away from the batters and fight, I think I will see a skillful game. I want to play a lot of matches and fight aggressively against batters,” he said.