Kwak Bin (24, Doosan Bears), whose potential is in full bloom, has risen to the ranks of the ace.
Kwak Bin started in 5 games last April and recorded an average ERA of 0.88 with 3 wins and 1 loss. During this period, he dominated the KBO League by recording a domestic pitcher average earned run average (2nd overall) and a hit rate of 0.164 (1st overall). Joa Pharma and this magazine selected Kwak Bin as the MVP for April.
Kwak Bin메이저사이트 joined Doosan with the first nomination in 2018. However, his injury got in the way, and he succeeded in returning to the first team in 2021. Although the mound in the first team, which returned after three years, was unfamiliar, it was difficult to find the right pitcher, but in the second half of last year (2.98 ERA in 11 games), he awakened in the first full season starting rotation. As a result, he also experienced his first adult national team stage at the World Baseball Classic (WBC) in March.
He has a better start this year. Starting with his first game of the season, April 4, against the NC Dinos, 7 innings, 2 hits, 1 walk, 10 strikeouts and no runs, he had his best April. On April 21, when he was in bad shape, he overcame the crisis himself and scored 1 run in 5 innings against the KT Wiz. The pitching and game management are becoming more mature day by day.
Kwak Bin said, “There were many players who did well during the month, and I am so grateful to be able to overcome the competition and receive an apology. I want to keep in good shape in the future so that I can win the award again.”
The time spent with injuries and rehabilitation treatment rather nurtured Kwakbin. As her condition improved, not only did she throw a better ball, but her mentality also strengthened. Gwak Bin said, “Before, even if the result of one game was bad, I changed my exercise routine. This year, I decided not to change whether the result was good or bad, but to keep doing it, so I felt more comfortable psychologically.”
On March 3, Kwak Bin appeared in a practice game between the national team and the SSG Landers Futures (2nd team) team. Gocheok = Reporter Jeong Si-jong capa@edaily.co.kr
The WBC experience also became a great asset. Kwak Bin recalled, “I felt a lot from watching pitchers from other countries on the international stage. There were also many fastball pitchers, but everyone was really good at pitching. I got the impression that pitchers put pitching first before speed.” The match against Japanese national team Shohei Ohtani (LA Angels) is also an unforgettable memory. Kwak Bin laughed, saying, “I think I won against Ohtani. Wasn’t the home run not right?” He was hit with a double on the right wing by batsman Ohtani in the first round match, but Kwak Bin is said to have thrown the ball without regret.
The power of partners is also great. Regarding Yang Eui-ji, who transferred to FA (free agent) ahead of this season, Kwak Bin said, “(Park) Se-hyeok (NC) was also a really good catcher, but Ui-ji is a catcher who can be trusted.” He also put a lot of confidence into it. He even joked with me, ‘There are three foreign pitchers in our team, including you. You must win at least 10 times.
On the afternoon of the 4th of last month, the 2023 professional baseball KBO League NC Dinos and Doosan Bears match was held at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul. At the beginning of the 3rd inning, Doosan starting pitcher Gwak Bin with 2 outs and 1st base is heading to the dugout after catching NC 1st base runner Park Min-woo as a check. Photo = Yonhap News
Kwak Bin is also close with Ahn Woo-jin (Kiwoom Heroes), who was the best pitcher last year. In April of this year, I scored equal to him, but I laughed, saying that my friend’s skills are still higher. She said, “I think I’m a little better at curves. Everything else is above Woojin.”
Kwak Bin’s curve is so good that he is confident of being ‘Ahn Woo-jin or better’. In his last two years, he has steadily increased his pitching rate (21% all season), and has become a ‘harness’ with a hit rate of only 0.074. Park Yong-taek, sports commentator at KBS N, recalled Gwak Bin, a newcomer he met as a player, and said, “It was a really impressive curve. I thought that just throwing this ball would work (in the first team).”
Kwak Bin, who had a perfect April, had a rather disappointing May. On the 7th, he started against the LG Twins and scored 6 runs, raising his earned run average to 2.53. He suffered an upper back sprain and took about three additional weeks off.
Gwak Bin, who has taken a break, is now preparing for a run in June. The Hangzhou Asian Games in September are likely, and if the same performance as in April continues, it is worth looking forward to challenging overseas leagues in the future. Kwak Bin said, “I am still a player who needs to show more in the KBO League,” but “If I become a pitcher recognized by everyone on the Korean stage and become the No. 1 player, then I will think in detail (about going abroad). laughed
