“It’s like a dream.”
Songwon University left-handed pitcher Jung Hyun-soo, 22, has been on a roll lately. He appeared on the popular JTBC entertainment program “Choi Gang Baseball. He tried out for the 2023 season and impressed manager Kim Sung-geun with his hard-hitting curveball. The legends of the KBO League were also impressed with his changeup. And so, Jung Hyun-soo joined the much-anticipated Choi Gangbuk Monsters.먹튀검증
Recently, at the 1st High School-College All-Star Game held at the Daejeon Hanwha Life Eagles Park, he said, “I’m an amateur player and I lack a lot. That’s why I ask the big boys a lot of things. I ask them how to handle each situation and what went wrong. I want to get confirmation even if my changeup is good, and I still dream of being with the legends,” he said, sharing his recent daily routine.
“I became a good pitcher in the college stage. However, I thought that if I played in front of cameras and spectators, I would have a stronger heart than I do now. I wanted to see how bold I was and if I could overcome such a situation. I wanted to experience what I would have to go through if I went to the pros.”
The day of the tryout was a mixed bag. On the one hand, I was able to clear my mind by watching the strong competitors. This allowed him to throw better pitches. “When I was playing catch, my curveball was really good. Coach Kim Sung-geun also gave me high praise, so I felt good. I was in particularly good shape. There were a lot of other good players, so I let my guard down. I thought, ‘This is a good experience. I went into the tryout thinking, ‘This is a good experience. Let’s relax,’ and it turned out well.”
Just playing baseball with legends helps a lot. In particular, Jang Won-sam, a left-handed pitcher like Jung Hyun-soo, taught him how to grip his changeup. “My slider was weak. I was worried about it a lot, but Jang Won-sam taught me how to throw a slider. He taught me so well that I now have confidence in it,” he laughs.
Jeong Hyun-soo, who graduated from Busan High School and tried his hand at the professional stage in 2020, suffered from undisclosed injuries. “In high school, I played as a hitter. I played center field and right field, but I wasn’t particularly good at anything. I didn’t make good contact or run fast, so it was hard to stand out. Looking back, I realize there was a reason I wasn’t selected,” he said.
However, he honed his skills at Songwon University and went 10-1 with a 3.57 ERA and 129 strikeouts in 83⅓ innings last year. This year, he went 2-1 with a 2.10 ERA and eight strikeouts in six games and 30⅓ innings.
Jeong said, “I want to be a player who constantly strives regardless of his ability, and I can’t be satisfied with baseball. I think baseball is really over when I retire in style like Lee Dae-ho. Until then, I want to be a player who does his best every day and improves step by step.” He made a resolution.
