Privacy controversy →30G suspension 146km bang! The month of fate has dawned for the national pitcher who returned
Sep 01, 2024
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Lotte Giants' Na Kyun-an (26) will be included in the first-team entry.
Na Kyun-an's baseball life was like a story of `human victory.' He joined Lotte in the second round of the rookie draft (3rd overall) in 2017, and was named catcher.
Although he was evaluated as the best catcher in high school, he rarely showed his skills in the professional field. I didn't follow luck, and I didn't meet the opportunity to improve my skills for sure.
stagnant growth. In the end, he made an unconventional choice of turning to a pitcher. In the meantime, I've changed my name. From Na Jong-deok to Na Gyun. It means to go up high.
He has steadily accumulated experience by showing his potential as a pitcher, and has settled on the starting lineup in 2023. He had a 6-8 record with a 3.80 ERA in 23 games. In particular, he won the monthly MVP in five games in April with four wins, no losses, and an ERA of 1.34, and was selected as the national team for the Hangzhou Asian Games and won the gold medal.
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Once again, privacy issues followed. Ahead of the KIA Tigers match on June 25, it was known that he drank with an acquaintance until late at night the previous night. Regardless of whether he was drunk or not, it was a problem as he was in his seat until late ahead of his start. All that remained was to show that the position at the time did not affect his condition with good pitching, but he pitched the worst with seven hits (one home run), six walks, two strikeouts and eight runs in one ⅔ inning. It was an incident that caused great damage to the team as well.
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Na Kyun-an, who trained again after completing the disciplinary action, started the game against the U-18 youth team at Sangdong Stadium in Gimhae on the 29th of last month and recorded two hits, three strikeouts and two runs (indemnity) in two innings. His first appearance in the real game since he was disciplined. The maximum speed of the fastball was 146.2 kilometers per hour, and he threw a combination of curves, cutters, and forks.
Lotte manager Kim Tae-hyung announced on the 1st that he would register Na Kyun-an in line with the expanded entry. Manager Kim said "A pitcher who throws a mid-140km ball" and "I'm going to use it according to the situation, such as using it as a middle pitcher."
The eighth-ranked Lotte won all three of its last games in August, narrowing its gap with the sixth-ranked SSG Landers (59 wins, 1 draw 65 losses) and the seventh-ranked Hanwha Eagles (57 wins, 2 draws 63 losses). The gap with KT Wiz (62 wins, 2 draws and 63 losses) in fifth place is two games. As there are still more than 20 games left, they are in a position to win enough autumn baseball tickets.
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In addition, two foreign pitchers are certain in the starting lineup, but Park Se-woong and Kim Jin-wook are showing some ups and downs. Na Kyun-an has various uses as both selection and relief are possible.
As an individual Na Kyun-an, he also has the opportunity to recover his image that he ran out of in the remaining month. Privacy issues can remain a label, but sluggish performance due to negligence in preparation for the game can sufficiently change the image on the mound.
The remaining month of good pitching became the only way for the team and himself to be saved.
bellstop@sportschosun.com
