I've seen you since elementary school…Special trade preparation FA welcomes KIA's ultra-luxury bullpen

Feb 13, 2025

KIA Tigers Cho Sang-woo. Photo courtesy = KIA Tigers

"I'm a good pitcher that I've seen since elementary school. I think there is a lot to learn."

KIA Tigers right-hander Cho Sang-woo is the main player who heated up the stove league this winter. KIA succeeded in filling the void of Jang Hyun-sik, a must-win group who transferred to the LG Twins as an FA by acquiring Cho Sang-woo in a trade with the Kiwoom Heroes in December last year. KIA held Cho Sang-woo, who was the best seller in the trade market last year, risking 1 billion won in cash and losing the first and fourth round of the 2026 rookie draft to Kiwoom.

Kwak Do-gyu, who emerged as a left-handed must-win team last year, said "(Cho Sang-woo) is a good pitcher I have seen since elementary school. I think there is a lot to learn. You also went to a training center in the United States, and I'm going to ask a lot because you have the same eye for baseball. I think it would be good to do well together,' he said, welcoming Jo Sang-woo's joining.

With Cho Sang-woo joining, KIA has one of the strongest bullpens in the league. Last year's save king, Jung Hae-young, takes the center stage of the must-win group. Jung Hae-young is KIA's finishing pitcher who has 121 saves in his career at the young age of 24. Cho Sang-woo is also a top bullpen with 88 saves in his career, but KIA manager Lee Bum-ho asserted that he will not change the big frame of "Jung Hae-young as the closing pitcher". Kwak Do-gyu, Jeon Sang-hyun, and Choi Ji-min, who were in the must-win group last year, will help this year as well.

KIA Tigers left-hander Kwak Do-gyu pitches at Irvine Spring Camp in the United States. Photo courtesy = KIA Tigers

KIA Tigers Jung Hae-young. Photo courtesy = KIA Tigers

Regarding the finishing competition with Cho Sang-woo, Jung Hae-young said, "I think I'm just learning a lot from (Cho) Sang-woo, rather than competition. Sang-woo has more experience than me, so I'm trying to learn a lot of what I'm lacking. I was a little nervous (by recruiting Cho Sang-woo), but I think that's why I became stronger during the offseason. "

Cho Sang-woo is currently sweating in Irvine, California, the training site for the KIA spring camp. Last month, he moved to the U.S. first and started to compensate for his shortcomings by conducting personal training at the pitcher training center, and after the start of camp, he is gradually improving his physical condition by pitching in the bullpen.

There is no shoulder pain that bothered Cho Sang-woo last year. He was diagnosed with no specific findings in a medical test conducted as soon as he transferred to KIA. In the first bullpen pitching held at the camp, the fastball speed was only 140km, but there is plenty of room to raise the speed further until the opening. Healthy Cho Sang-woo throws a heavy fastball over 150 kilometers per hour.

KIA pitching coach Jeong Jae-hoon watched Cho Sang-woo's first pitch and said, `I think I made a good body during the offseason. Overall, I felt the strength of the ball and the movement of the ball was good. He said, "I'm looking forward to this season, and it'll be a big boost to the team's bullpen."

KIA chose Cho Sang-woo as its winning pitcher for the second consecutive year. Cho Sang-woo is highly motivated in many ways to qualify as the first FA in his life when he finishes this season. Will Cho Sang-woo be able to live up to KIA's expectations by singing his revival this year after being disappointed by his absence from the military and injury last year.