Choi Won-joon, who said, "I'm sorry I can't help the team."When fall comes, "I'll do both the bullpen and the losing team."

Choi Won-joon, who said, "I'm sorry I can't help the team."When fall comes, "I'll do both the bullpen and the losing team."

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Choi Won-joon of the Doosan Bears started at a home game against the Samsung Lions of the 2024 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League held at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul on Sunday. He pitched six innings and had five hits (one homer) with three walks, three strikeouts, and two runs. Doosan won the game 8-4, securing three consecutive wins to maintain its fourth position.메이저사이트

Choi pitched 101 strikes in total. He pitched 38 fastballs, 36 sliders, 19 splitter, and eight curves. His highest speed was 143 km/h. He had his third quality start of this season (more than six innings as a starter and three earned runs or less), securing his sixth win (seven losses). His earned run average for this season was lowered from 6.53 to 6.33.

Doosan manager Lee Seung-yeop praised Choi Won-joon by saying, "He showed off a quality start by pitching well that does not lag behind the opponent team's batters. It was a pitch that perfectly fulfilled his role."

Choi Won-joon said, "There was a crisis, but I was able to get over the well-hit ball because (Joe) Ha-su caught it with a good defense." Cho, who started as the ninth batter and right fielder, presented Choi Won-joon with an out count in the top of the third inning by persistently following and snatching hits by Koo Ja-wook and Kim Young-woong.

He struggled in the previous two games. He lost the game against the NC Dinos on April 27 by allowing six runs in four innings and three runs in four ⅓ against the Hanwha Eagles on April 3.

"Actually, I felt that the ball got better in those two games. I think he was greedy because of his good speed," Choi said. "So I had a home run and the game was not good. I worked hard to make up for those areas."

What kind of conversation did he have with catcher Yang Eui-ji who worked with him? Choi Won-joon said, "He always says, 'Throw aggressively. Even if a batter hits, it doesn't mean every hit will be made.' This time again, I fought hard against batters 8th to 9th, and kept talking when they came in after the inning. He said, 'Why are you making it so difficult? I want you to make it fast.' At the end, I shook my head at your autograph, but he just sat there with the signature on. There was an episode like that."

The team has been winning consecutive games and is in fierce competition for fourth place, so I felt heavy on my shoulders. Choi Won-joon said, "I thought of the team rather than my personal record because it was at the end of the season. We need to finish pitching at a time when the team is winning, and we need to throw well so that we don't lose." Everyone, including starters Balazovic and Kwak Bin, is playing with that mindset."

"Our team's bullpen is very good, so it was often put in a little faster. The starting pitchers need to work harder," he said, adding, "I think I lost my strength relatively now because a lot of relief pitchers threw it. I hope we can all cheer up because there are only a few games left."

When Choi Won-joon of the Samsung Lions won the starting pitcher by allowing two runs in five innings on June 21, Lee Seung-yeop once said, "I have thrown well but often left the mound early due to team circumstances. This time, I have minimized number of runs by making very efficient pitches." He also expressed his sincere feelings and gratitude.

Choi Won-joon said, "The coach himself said, 'I'm sorry. I'll let you throw a little longer next time,' and he comforted me a lot. So I don't care about that at all," adding, "If I had thrown better, I would have taken longer innings. I have no complaints about the coach's choice. I'm just focusing on my team winning."

He is going through a tough year this season, with his earned run average rising to the six-point level. "I've put down so many things. I'm just thankful to be a starter in the first team," Choi said calmly. "I used to throw six to seven innings in a game, but now it's all in the past. Now I'm going to do my best in every game."

"I want to be more helpful to the team, but I'm just sorry that I don't seem to be of much help," he stressed.

He is expected to take the mound as a starting pitcher in eight more games during the remaining regular season. He can occupy a postseason, too. "I don't care if it's a relief pitcher or a losing team. I wish I could take the mound as long as I can," Choi said. "I moved to the bullpen during the wild card game last year, but I couldn't participate in the game, so I had many thoughts. Baseball is not easy, so you can't do well as you want. I will try until a good day comes."

After finishing the regular season in fifth place last year, Doosan lost to the NC Dinos, which ranked fourth in the wild card game, and ended its short-lived autumn baseball season. This year, Doosan is competing with KT Wiz for fourth to fifth place. "Our team has always been strong in the post season. I want to advance to the Korean Series," Choi said with a smile.