Kim Yun-sik (LG Twins), who wrote a brilliant growth drama in the second half, now only the best go to the WBC.
On the 4th, the final list for the 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC) was released. Kang-Cheol Lee, head coach of the WBC national team, and Bum-Hyeon Cho, technical director of the WBC national team, held a press conference and announced the list of 30 players. 15 pitchers, 2 catchers, 8 infielders, and 5 outfielders were selected.
Of the five pitching staff, five are left-handers. Veteran pitchers representing the league, Kim Gwang-hyeon (SSG Landers) and Yang Hyeon-jong (KIA Tigers), of course, were named. In addition, Chang-mo Koo (NC Dinos), who cannot be left out, and Eui-ri Lee (KIA), who showed more than expected at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, were also selected.
And one spot was occupied by this player. That is Yunshik Kim. Kim Yun-sik forms the youngest lineup of the national team along with Lee Eui-ri, So-jun So (kt Wiz), and Won Tae-in (Samsung Lions).
If asked to pick a player who showed an amazing growth rate in the 2022 season, the name Yun-sik Kim comes out of the majority of mouths.
Kim Yun-sik played 23 games in the 2022 season and had a career high season with an average ERA of 3.31 with 8 wins and 5 losses. His first half was mediocre. He went 3-3 with an ERA of 3.92. He also had a batting average of 0.308.
However, in the second half of the year, Kim Yun-shik began to write beautiful coming-of-age dramas. His performance in the second half is 5 wins, 2 losses, and an average ERA of 2.68. Although they failed to fill the required innings in the second half, the only domestic players with an ERA lower than or equal to Kim Yun-shik were Kiwoom Heroes An Woo-jin (2.23), kt Eom Sang-baek (2.31), and SSG Kim Gwang-hyun (2.68). He made seven quality starts (three earned runs or less in six innings of starts) out of 11 appearances in the second half.
In particular, against KIA on August 25, he scored the most innings since his debut with 8 innings and 1 run. In addition, from the KIA match on August 25th to the last appearance of the season, he pitched 5 or more innings in 7 consecutive games and played less than 2 earned runs. In September, he allowed just two runs and only one earned run while pitching 29 innings in five games. His ERA was as low as 0.31. Because of his outstanding performance, he was nominated for the Monthly MVP in the first September of his debut.
In the 3rd game of the semi-playoff against Kiwoom Heroes, which was the debut match for the fall baseball selection, LG fans applauded for pitching close to perfection with 3 pian 1 run in 5.2 innings. His changeup, which he puts out as a deciding ball at every important moment, is excellent.
Until last season, he went back and forth between selection and salvation, and this season, he started the season as a starting candidate rather than a perfect selection resource. However, after writing a beautiful growth drama in the second half of the year, he proudly made his name among the top 30 WBC. 안전놀이터
If it had not been for the support of the batting line and the fire of the bullpen, Kim Yun-shik might have earned his first double-digit multiplier in his debut. That much consistently blocked the innings and minimized the run.
In the upcoming season, along with Casey Kelly, Adam Plutko, and Lee Min-ho, he is expected to play an active part as a strong member of the LG starting lineup.
The WBC is a tournament where the best players gather. Fans are really looking forward to what kind of scenario Kim Yun-sik will write in the WBC.