158km without hesitation! The showcase was amazing'ERA 0.61'Wonseok → 23-year-old Sidearm's dream to be reborn as a gemstone

Jul 07, 2024

Lee Kang-jun for the interview. Reporter Kim Young-rok

158km on the electronic display. It was a moment that shocked 11,869 spectators who visited the Futures All-Star Game.

Even the slender pitcher on the mound was the sidearm, and the main weapon was the pitcher with 'tussim'. It is Lee Kang-joon (23), who is considered the future of Kiwoom Heroes.

Lee Kang-joon, who appeared in the Futures All-Star match, appeared as the last pitcher in the ninth inning of the South and pitched well with one scoreless inning. He gave up a walk and a hit one by one, but he ended his team's southern victory by boasting a light speed of up to 158km.

Lee Kang-joon, a native of Seorak High School, moved his team twice five years after his debut. He was selected by KT Wiz in the second round (22nd overall) of the 2020 rookie draft, but transferred to Lotte in a trade with Kim Joon-tae and Oh Yoon-seok. He then changed his uniform back to Kiwoom Heroes as a reward player for Han Hyun-hee ahead of the 2023 season. He is currently serving in the Armed Forces Sports Unit.

The 2024 KBO League Futures League All-Star Game was held at SSG Landers Field in Incheon on the 5th. Southern League All-Star Lee Kang-joon is pitching hard. Incheon=Park Jae-man Reporter pjm@sportschosun.com/2024.07.05/

Lee Kang-joon, who met at the scene, smiled, saying, `The number of arrests has increased compared to before.' It raised the maximum speed of Tu Shim, which was up to 153-154 kilometers, to 157-158 kilometers. It was not a pretense. I proved it in real life.

Before joining the army, Lee Kang-joon had a strong fighting spirit, but his control was pointed out as a weakness. However, he is overcoming his weakness in Sangmu. Grades support this. He has two wins, eight holds, four saves and an ERA of 0.61 while playing 29 ⅔ in 26 games this season.

It is a great transition period from gemstone to gemstone.

"I'm satisfied that my ball control seems to have stabilized a lot. It's still in the second division, so it's important to do well in the first division next year."

Why is it so different from Lotte. Lee Kang-jun had a preconceived notion that `then you had to throw the ball like this.' I tried to learn uncomfortable movements"I looked back.

Lee Kang-joon, the southern managing director, is pitching hard in the 2024 KBO Futures League All-Star Game held at SSG Landers Field in Incheon on the 5th. Incheon= Reporter's book @sportschosun.com/2024.07.05/

"Mentally, I think I was too focused on the result and the form mechanically, so I couldn't concentrate on throwing the ball. Sangmu is concentrating on throwing strikes as much as possible, no matter the arm height. Throwing it in the most comfortable motion made it good to control the ball and increase the speed. I always played with anxiety on my own, but now I'm settled down."

Even before he played for Kiwoom, he joined Sangmu and has not had any special contact with his team yet. On this day, it is a step to gradually increase intimacy by taking pictures with Kiwoom players and appearing on YouTube. Lee Kang-joon laughed, saying, `I know only the players who played in the national team such as Park Joo-hong, Shin Joon-woo, and Jang Jae-young, and I am close to Park Joo-sung, who is in the military together.'

Lee Kang-joon will be discharged from the military in November. He is the player who is waiting for 2025 more than anyone else.

Lee Kang-jun, who took a picture with the Kiwoom players. Photo courtesy = Kium Heroes

I still watch Kiwoom games. The goal for the second half is to focus solely on pitching without thinking about the results. Lee Kang-jun "I don't see him for a month or two. The batter in front of me, one game today, and this week, I'm doing my best to throw one ball, one ball," he stressed.

"When I watch the first-team game, it just boils up, but it's my first time throwing it stably like these days.... I'm looking forward to what the results will be if I throw it with this mindset in the first team. I want to show good performance in the first team next year."

lunarfly@sportschosun.com