15 wins seemed certain, but what should I do with leaking the first starter, I'm waiting for the ace for 159km

Jan 05, 2025

Kyle Hart, whose renewal contract with NC broke down. Sports Chosun DB

NC's new foreign pitcher Riley Thompson. Photograph =Iowa Cubs

15 wins was a clear first start. But I'm hoping the right-hander fireballer will take over for the role.

The NC Dinos have completed the formation of all foreign players in the 2025 season. The batter's box was filled by renewing his contract with Matt Davidson, and the two pitchers are new faces. Right-hander Riley Thompson and left-hander Logan Allen will wear NC's uniforms this season.

He broke up with Kyle Hart, who filled Eric Peddy's vacancy with `Ace' last year. NC put a lot of effort into renewing the contract with Hearts. Lee Ho-joon, the new coach, also said at the inauguration ceremony, `It is not important to recruit outside FA right now. We are trying to nurture our players as much as possible. But if I renew my contract with Heart, that would be the biggest gift for me" also expressed expectations.

However, as Hart was more inclined to re-challenge the Major League than to renew the contract with NC, the renewal of the contract was virtually in vain. NC couldn't help but let go as Hearts continued to express their position of "Please let me wait for the Major League offer". He quickly started recruiting replacement players, and as a result, Allen was recruited. Allen was finally selected according to the plan, which required a left-hander starting pitcher.

Coach Lee Ho-joon of NC Dinos is interviewing reporters at Changwon NC Park in Masanhoewon-gu, Changwon-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, on the afternoon of the 3rd. Yonhap News

Hart is currently awaiting a major league contract. The U.S. media reported that Hart received up to 18 teams, and that the "The Athletic" was one of the teams that the New York Yankees, Milwaukee Brewers, Minnesota Twins, Houston Astros and Baltimore Orioles expressed interest in. If the destination of Rocky Sasaki, considered the `FA's biggest fish,' is decided after Jan. 21, there is a possibility that the contracts of Hart and the rest of the pitchers will be pushed back until then.

Coach Lee Ho-joon, who heard the news of Hart's breakdown in the contract, was also somewhat disappointed. Coach Lee Ho-joon, who met with reporters on the 3rd, said, `I thought Hart was a clear card to predict 15 wins, but it was a shame.' Still, the NC International Scout Team is a team with the best Korean players. The player who signed a new contract this time is also said to be better than Hearts. I expected 15 wins at the heart spot. If it's better, I'll predict 20 wins," he joked and laughed.

However, head coach Lee Ho-joon has also finished analyzing to some extent by watching videos of new foreign pitchers with head coach Seo Jae-eung and pitching coach Lee Yong-hoon. Director Lee Ho-joon "In fact, opinions were divided. Logan was hired as the first starter, but the head coach and the pitching coach thought Thompson was the first starter. Shouldn't one of the two be the ace?"

라일리 톰슨. Photo =NC Dinos

Thompson, who is a pitcher specialist Seo Jae-ung and coach Lee Yong-hoon's 'pick', is a right-handed fireballer who throws fastballs up to 159 kilometers and 151 to 154 kilometers on average. He is a promising Chicago Cubs player and has no big league experience. However, he was born in 1996 and is relatively young. Although his ball control is not sophisticated, he can beat his opponent with his ball power. Although there are variables in the ABS zone adaptation problem, he is a pitcher who can succeed enough if he quickly understands the characteristics of early KBO league hitters because he has the ball power.

NC has yet to confirm the 3rd to 5th selection. It is an infinite competition system from the spring camp. Given the history of many variables, foreign pitchers must be firmly established to raise expectations for the team's performance. In particular, fireballer Thompson's shoulders are heavy.

This article was translated by Naver AI translator.