KIA's lucky pitcher, who has changed his glove, is so desperate...Why?

Jul 02, 2024

KIA-SSG match held at SSG Landers Field in Incheon on the 13th. KIA starter Nail is pitching. Incheon = Reporter Jeong Jae-geun cjg@sportschosun.com /2024.6.13/

KIA Tigers foreign pitcher James Nail recently replaced his glove.

Glove replacement with a fixed durability is not uncommon. For many reasons, players sometimes change their gloves during the season. However, glove replacements are not common during the season for pitchers whose frequency of use is less than that of fielders.

Nail, who wore a KIA uniform this season, is the No. 1 overall in the KBO league with an ERA of 2.51 as of the 1st. In 96 ⅔ innings in 16 games, he pitched 10 quality starts (more than 6 innings as a starter, less than 3 earned runs) and won 7 games (two losses) to ease KIA's foreign pitching worries.

The LG-KIA match held at Kia Champions Field in Gwangju on the 19th. Nail allowed Park Dong-won to score a tying two-run shot with no outs in the top of the seventh inning. Gwangju = Reporter Jeong Jae-geun cjg@sportschosun.com /2024.6.19/

However, the move slowed down in June. In the game against the Doosan Bears on the 7th, he recorded eight hits (two home runs), one walk (one walk), two strikeouts and five runs (four earned) in six ⅓ innings, and in the game against SSG Landers on the 13th, he struck out nine in six innings, but he became a losing pitcher by allowing five runs on nine hits (one home run) and one walk. In the game against the LG Twins on the 19th, he seemed to be stabilizing by pitching QS with five hits (one home run), one walk, six strikeouts, and two runs in six ⅓ innings, but he bowed again with 11 hits (one home run), two walks, four strikeouts and nine runs (four earned runs) in five innings against the Lotte Giants on the 25th.

For the month of June, Nail's ERA rose from 1.64 until 4.40. May to 2.51. Nevertheless, the number one spot in this category shows how overwhelming nail pitching has been before.

Until May, Nail had only two homers in 11 games and 66 innings. However, he has given up five home runs in the last four games. The fact that the number of hits, especially long balls, has increased is considered to be the cause of the sluggishness in June. It can be said that hitters have grasped the pattern of nail pitching to some extent and entered the batter's box.

The LG-KIA match held at Kia Champions Field in Gwangju on the 19th. Nail, who struck out Moon Sung-joo with no outs in the top of the sixth inning, is cheering. Gwangju = Reporter Jeong Jae-geun cjg@sportschosun.com /2024.6.19/

KIA has also recognized and prepared for this early. Nail also exchanged opinions with the power analysis team to find a breakthrough. The recent glove replacement is also in line with such nail rebound efforts.

Nails, which were included in the St. Louis Cardinals 40-man roster until last year, have received high scores not only in terms of skill but also in personality. He constantly communicated with domestic players and did not neglect to pass on know-how. Helping Cam Aldred adapt as a replacement for Will Crow.

a struggle for change. It is related to the rebound of not only individuals but also the team on the brink of leading Mercury.

ppark@sportschosun.com

KIA's lucky pitcher, who has changed his glove, is so desperate...Why?

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