Doosan Bears right-hander Kim Yoo-sung, 21, pitched his best game in his first ever star-studded event.
Kim started the Northern League game of the 2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO Futures All-Star Game at Sajik Baseball Stadium in Busan on Thursday and pitched a one-hit shutout with no walks and two strikeouts. He fanned batters one by one with a fastball that reached nearly 150 kilometers per hour. His pitch count was high, with 14 pitches and six strikes, but he was able to get the job done.
Things didn’t start well for the first batter. Kim got off to a shaky start in the first inning, walking the leadoff batter, Kim Byung-joon (KT). Kim began to regain his confidence as he struck out the next batter, Park Joo-chan (NC), with a 146.5-kilometer-per-hour high fastball. He got Chun Sung-ho (Commerce) to fly out to left field to keep Byung-joon Kim at first base for the second out, and then struck out Seo Dong-wook (Lotte) on a 149.4-kilometer-per-hour fastball to end the inning. After pitching the first inning, Kim Yoo-seong handed the mound over to Jung Yi-hwang (Hanwha) to start the second.
Kim Yoo-sung wore a professional baseball uniform this year after a series of twists and turns. He was drafted by the NC Dinos in 2021, but was unexpectedly withdrawn after it was discovered that he had been disciplined for school violence in middle school. Kim didn’t let go of his baseball dreams and went to Korea University to try his luck again, and in 2023, he was selected in the second round with the 19th overall pick.
At the time of his selection, Kim had not yet received forgiveness from his victim, so Doosan decided not to put him on the mound until his past issues were resolved. He had already served all of his discipline for bullying, so his victim’s forgiveness was the last straw. Kim Yoo-sung waited patiently for the victim to open up to him, and in April, the victim agreed to forgive him and Kim began his professional career in earnest.
Doosan head coach Lee Seung-yeop immediately promoted Kim to the first team after consistently receiving good reports from the second team, but it didn’t work out. In four games with the first team, Kim pitched four innings with a 13.50 ERA. While he struck out four batters, he walked 11 and struggled to control his pitches. 메이저사이트주소
In the Future team, he continues to receive starting lessons and is waiting for his call-up to the first team. In nine Futures League games, he has a 1-2 record, 40 innings pitched, and a 5.40 ERA. He’ll need to work on reducing his ups and downs.
“I’m here because the manager helped me, but my goal is to pitch well and help the team win,” Kim said in preparation for the Futures All-Star Game. On his first day at the Festival of Stars, Kim stuck to his task and accomplished his goal.
