30 million won → 135 million won 350% super awesome on board...The back door will be opened again this year

Jan 06, 2025

Cho Byung-hyun (right) celebrates with catcher Lee Ji-young after finishing the game. Sports Chosun DB

350% increase in annual salary is a huge hit. Cho Byung-hyun, who blossomed for the first time since his professional debut, will try to finish his second year of iron wall.

SSG Landers announced on the 6th that it has completed the renewal of the team's salary in 2025. The most notable player is pitcher Cho Byung-hyun. Cho Byung-hyun renewed his contract for 135 million won, a 350% increase from the previous 30 million won, and recorded the highest increase rate in the club at the same time as he entered his first billion won salary. The increase alone amounts to 105 million won. It is not common for a player who received the lowest salary in the previous season to jump more than 100 million won at once.

Cho Byung-hyun, who joined the SK Wyverns as the 28th overall pick in the second third round of the 2021 rookie draft after graduating from Cheongju Sebo, was a "promising runner" until the 2024 season.

He made his debut in the first team in 2021, but only took the mound in three games, and it was still evaluated as incomplete. Jo Byung-hyun's enlistment in the military became a divine move. Joining the army during the 2022 season, he started and finished in the Futures League. In particular, in 2023, which was a discharge season, he achieved a comprehensive performance of 2 wins, 2 losses, 4 holds, 17 saves, and an ERA of 2.25 in 43 games in the Futures League. He ranked first in saves in the Southern League.

Cho Byung-hyun.Sports Chosun DB

He was a starting candidate before joining the army, but he showed the possibility that he could also be a closer in Sangmu. Cho Byung-hyun, who has a stronger body and a heavy fastball of up to 155km since his military service, was selected as a national team for the Asian Baseball Championship and the Asian Professional Baseball Championship as soon as he was discharged from the military, raising expectations for the 2024 season.

Cho Byung-hyun, who was considered a 'dark horse' from the spring camp, certainly burst his potential in the first team. He took the mound in a comfortable situation at the beginning of the season, but he was used in an increasingly tight match situation by spraying powerful balls. It started as a chasing group, but it was immediately upgraded to a must-win group, and in the second half of the year, it secured a finishing position.

The final result of the 2024 season was 4-6 with 12 holds, 12 saves, and a 3.58 ERA. Along with Noh Kyung-eun, it was a season that was recognized as the most reliable bullpen agent and the most heavy ball-spraying closer in the SSG bullpen. As the KBO's record of 10 consecutive strikeouts proves, his enormous strikeout ability is his best weapon.

On the 16th, the Premier 12 baseball team played against the Dominican Republic at Taipei Tiananmen Stadium in Taiwan. Cho Byung-hyun pitching. Taipei (Taiwan) = Song Jeong-heon Reporter's songs@sportschosun.com/2024.11.16/

After the end of the season, he was also the only SSG pitcher to be selected for the 'Premier 12' national team. Now he is Cho Byung-hyun, who has grown into a national pitcher.

In addition to the hot salary increase, Cho will take over the back door again this season. There was also a concern about the re-conversion of the starting lineup. However, as we finished the 2024 season in a good mood, I think it would be better to continue that good energy. Cho Byung-hyun also said, "In the past, I thought selection was the right role for me, but when I finished it, it was really attractive."I don't care about my position."

Manager Lee Soo-yong will place major bullpen pitchers such as Noh Kyung-eun, Kim Min, and Seo Jin-yong in front of Cho Byung-hyun. At the heart of all bullpen initiatives is closer Cho Byung-hyun.

This article was translated by Naver AI translator.