The shock of the V12 must-win group, and even though it hurts, there is no need to lower your head. Pay back with growth
Nov 16, 2024
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2024 WBSC Premier 12 Korea-Japan match. South Korea, which succeeded in bringing the lead back to 3-2 amid Yoo Young-chan's hard pitching, put Kwak Do-kyu on the mound when left-handed hitter Jojo-no appeared after one out in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Kwak Do-gyu previously pitched against Taiwan and Cuba. He played as a specialist who finished the inning without losing a point while facing only one batter each. On this day, the mission was to deal with Gojono and another left-handed hitter Tatsumi and finish the inning. Although he did not have much experience in consecutive pitching, he had no choice but to perform his duties because he was the national team that had no choice but to rely on the bullpen in every game due to the lineup injury.
Kwak Do-gyu got off to a good start by striking out Gojo-no after a seven-pitch game. However, in Tatsumi's at-bat, the outside fastballs were not ruled a strike, and he eventually allowed a walk on base.
The next batter is Morishita, Japan's fourth and right-handed hitter. As right-hander Lee Young-ha was preparing for the bullpen, Kwak Do-kyu was expected to come down the mound. However, the Korean bench chose to push Kwak Do-gyu as he is.
However, Morisita's curve, which showed its power against left-handed hitters, hardly worked. The ball control has already begun to falter, perhaps due to the aftermath of his all-out pitching while facing two batters. In the end, even Morissita was sent out, and runners piled up, and left-handed hitter Gurihara appeared again. Kurihara shook Kwak Do-gyu with three straight cuts at the full count. In the end, the ball that fell out of his hand in the ninth pitch hit Kurihara and became a four-base pitch, creating a two-out bases-loaded crisis. The South Korean bench belatedly put Lee Young-ha on the mound, but gave up a timely two-run turnaround hit to Maki.
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Kwak Do-gyu nervously watched Lee Young-ha's pitch from the side of the dugout after coming down the mound. However, when Lee Young-ha gave up a timely hit, he could hardly raise his head and even showed tears.
Kwak Do-gyu's face heading to the bus after the game was red. The reporters tried to talk, but Kwak Do-gyu headed straight to the bus with his head down.
Kwak Do-gyu, who is in his second year as a professional player, was a must-winner for KIA, which achieved the V12 this year. It is a rare left-hand side arm, and its main weapon is a large-angle curve and fastball such as a clothesline. In particular, he has drawn the bats of opposing batters with aggressive pitching. He also played a must-win role in the first Korean series in his life, and succeeded in saving all four games and won two games.
Japanese batters also showed difficulty responding to Kwak Do-gyu's curve. However, I endured the slight deviation of the fastball and cut it persistently when it came inside even a little. It was a thorough study of the balls of Korean pitchers, and he showed a high level of performance while executing them as they were.
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It's only been 2 years since I debuted as a professional. He is still a young pitcher who has a lot of days to throw. You can pay back the opportunity in the national team that will come back in the future, and Japan, which may meet again, with growth.
ppark@sportschosun.com
