We also learn the necessary pitching and pitching in the ABS era, an admirable best practice...I thought this was a cheek combination

Feb 26, 2025

KIA Yang Hyun-jong, who took the mound in the second inning, is pitching hard in a practice game between Hanwha and KIA at Kin Stadium in Okinawa, Japan, on the 25th. Okinawa (Japan) = Reporter Heo Sang-wook wook@sportschosun.com /2025.02.25/

Hanwha Ryu Hyun-jin is pitching the bullpen in a practice game between the Hanwha Eagles and the Chiba Lotte Marines at Itoman Nishijaki Baseball Stadium in Okinawa, Japan, on the 23rd. Okinawa (Japan) = Reporter Heo Sang-wook wook@sportschosun.com /2025.02.23/

[Okinawa (Japan) = Reporter Lee Jong-seo of Sports Chosun] "Same story as a year ago."

Yang Hyun-jong (37, KIA Tigers), who has made a big mark in the history of KBO league pitchers, is also continuously learning 'learning'.

Last year, the KBO League introduced an automatic pitching decision system (ABS). an era judged by machines, not by humans. The value of the curve has increased a little, as strike decisions are made if only the S zone is caught.

ABS S zone will be a little lower this season. If the curve on the high side of the S-zone was good, it is now utilized on the low side.

Yang Hyun-jong said "Curve is an important point", adding "I'll take the risk and think about whether I should make changes or not, but curves are the most important points for pitchers to live last year or this year."

Last year, Yang Hyun-jong focused on fastballs, changeups and sliders. I threw a curveball, but it wasn't a solid game.

Asked what kind of efforts he makes to improve his curve ball quality, Yang said, `I'm like a young player. I see a good video and so on."

The most closely watched video was Ryu Hyun-jin (Hanwha) pitching. Yang Hyeon-jong watched a lot of Ryu Hyun-jin's curve video. When I watch Hyunjin's video, I think this is really a ball combination. I think I watch it a lot thinking that I should learn more. I'm an experienced pitcher, but when I'm in the U.S. or when I look at ball combinations and locations where I spend a year in Korea, I can feel that it's a senior pitch that I really need to see and learn. I think it'll be easier if I learn this and make it my own" he said.

Yang Hyeon-jong continued, "(Ryu) Hyun-jin is a pitcher who can put the ball in the S-zone and take it out as well as speed control," and added "It helps a lot, and I personally think it's a homework to follow along and how much to do."I'm watching Hyun-jin's game carefully. "

KIA Yang Hyun-jong is pitching hard in a practice game between Hanwha and KIA at Kin Stadium in Okinawa, Japan, on the 25th. Okinawa (Japan) = Reporter Heo Sang-wook wook@sportschosun.com /2025.02.25/

Meanwhile, Yang Hyun-jong took the mound as the second pitcher in a practice game against the Hanwha Eagles at Okinawa Keen Stadium in Japan on the 25th and allowed four hits, one walk, five strikeouts, and two runs (one earned run) in two innings. The maximum speed was 141km, and a total of 40 balls, including slider change-up curves, were thrown. Yang Hyun-jong's first real pitching in 2025. Although it allowed hits to the concentration of Hanwha's batters, overall, the contents to be checked have been completed to some extent.

Yang Hyun-jong "I can't say it's good or bad. I thought the sense of play was important. It's been a long time, but I'm nervous about my first appearance in spring camp. Since it's a place where you have a lot of thoughts and test what you've prepared, I think you're playing with excitement" he said.

He's in good shape, too. He is in the upward phase. There is no pain, nothing to worry about. He said, "I think I'm thinking about the bad part of the season, such as a leadoff hitter's walk or a breaking ball being pushed back, and I also thought I should throw it delicately and accurately."

This article was translated by Naver AI translator.