Teenage S. Korean pitchers put on dazzling show vs. Dodgers
By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, March 18 (Yonhap) — South Korean baseball fans enjoyed a glimpse of a bright future Monday, with a couple of teenage pitchers combining to striking out three Los Angeles Dodgers hitters in an exhibition game.
South Korea might have lost 5-2 at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, but they got a small victory within the game, with right-hander Kim Taek-yeon and left-hander Hwang Jun-seo, both 18, flashing the kind of stuff that made them the top two picks at last year’s Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) draft.
Kim, the No. 2 overall pick by the Doosan Bears, took the mound in the bottom sixth as South Korea’s fourth pitcher of the game. Up against two-time Silver Slugger winner Teoscar Hernandez, Kim threw three straight fastballs, each over 92 miles per hour (mph), to get ahead 1-2 in the count. Hernandez spoiled a 1-2 curveball, and Kim went back to his fastball, this time at 93.7 mph, to strike out Hernandez swinging.
This March 13, 2024, photo provided by the Doosan Bears shows the team’s rookie pitcher Kim Taek-yeon. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Kim was even more impressive against James Outman. He missed the zone with three straight fastballs, but got two quick strikes to get to full count. Then Kim threw a 92.5 mph fastball up in the zone and Outman whiffed on it for the second out.
With left-handed Jason Heyward on deck, South Korea then turned to Hwang, the first overall choice by the Hanwha Eagles. The Dodgers then sent righty Miguel Vargas to pinch hit for Heyward, and Hwang won that battle in four pitches.
Hwang got a called strike with a sinker and threw two straight changeups, the second of which Vargas fouled off.
Then Hwang offered a 91 mph fastball, and Vargas was late on the high pitch.
This was a monumental moment for the two teenagers who haven’t even made their KBO regular season debut.
National team manager Ryu Joong-il had said over the past several days that he wanted the team’s younger players to relish the experience and learn from playing against major league teams. And Kim and Hwang couldn’t have asked for better opportunities than the ones they had Monday.
This March 12, 2024, photo provided by the Hanwha Eagles shows the team’s rookie pitcher Hwang Jun-seo. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
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