Skins overpowered No. 1 home run with a 160.5-km single...Starter's debut game with no hits and no runs in one inning
Jul 17, 2024
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Skins took the mound as an NL starter at the All-Star Game at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas on the 17th (Korea time) and neatly blocked one inning with one walk and no hit. Skins threw a powerful pitch against the AL's best hitters without being intimidated at all.
Skins got off to a good start in the bottom of the first inning when he threw a 99.9-mile fastball into his body on the fourth pitch from a two-strike. Gunner Henderson then threw a 93.5-mile outside sinker on the fourth pitch at the ball count of 1B2S to induce a ground ball, and took care of it himself.
The stands began to tremble when Juan Soto, the Yankees" big guns", the highlight of the All-Star Game, entered the batter's box. Soto is a slugger who moved to the Yankees this year and is considered an AL MVP candidate by showing his best batting skills during the first half of his career.
Skins took care of Soto. However, he allowed a walk when he lost a 100-mile fastball on the sixth pitch from the full count while cornering. The five pitches thrown at Soto hit a maximum speed of 100.1 miles (161.1 kilometers) on the day.
However, Skins threw a 99.7 (160.5 km) first pitch toward his body and guided him to a ground ball to third base, catching the leadoff Soto and finishing the inning lightly. Both Soto and Judge were sluggers who met for the first time in their lives, but they showed rookie pitcher's spirit with their unique fastballs.
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Skins made headlines when he made his major league debut in May and threw only 11 games and was selected as an All-Star. He was also selected as a starting pitcher representing the NL and took the mound on the same day with hot attention. His All-Star Game selection has produced a number of interesting records regarding his age, career, and debut time.
First of all, Skins was recorded as the first player to play in the All-Star Game the following year after receiving the first overall pick in the first round of the draft. He is also the fifth rookie pitcher to start the All-Star Game, following Hideo Nomo (1995), Fernando Valenzuela (1981), Mark Feidrich (1976) and Dave Stenhouse (1962).
In addition, Skins has only played in 11 games since his debut, all he has done is his big league career. This is the minimum career tie for All-Star Game starters like Feidrich in the Major League.
Skins is also the fifth pitcher to start the All-Star Game in the history of the Pittsburgh club, following Bob Friend (1956 and 1960), Burnlaw (1960's second game), Dog Ellis (1971) and Royce (1975).
Skins pitched 66 ⅓ innings in 11 appearances in the first half, marking six wins, a 1.90 ERA, 89 strikeouts, a WHIP of 0.92 and a 0.202 hit rate, and quickly emerged as the top candidate in the NL Rookie of the Year. Depending on the pitching content in the second half, the NL Cy Young Award is also showing the power to compete.
jhno@sportschosun.com
