ERA 1.29 Left-hander must-win, left-handed batters equipped with a lethal weapon...be reborn as a left-winger
ERA 1.29 Left-hander must-win, left-handed batters equipped with a lethal weapon...be reborn as a left-winger
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Lee Sang-min (35), a left-hander of the Samsung Lions in professional baseball, said, "It was a really unforgettable year," looking back on last year.
Lee Sang-min pitched in 37 games (30 innings) last year and posted an ERA of 2.90 with one win, one save and eight holds. Notably, he has displayed stellar performance with an ERA of 1.29 with one win and four holds in 10 games since September.
"His ball speed has improved a lot compared to the past. His maximum ball speed was in the late 130 kilometers, but now he throws around 140 kilometers on average," coach Park Jin-man said of Lee Sang-min. "His ball control is stable originally, but his improved speed has made it easier for him to compete with batters."
Lee Sang-min, who is preparing for this season by traveling between the TREX Training Center and Daegu Samsung Lions Park run by Lee Han-il, a former Samsung trainer, said, "I focus on weight training and core strengthening training in the morning and play catch at the ballpark in the afternoon."
Looking back on last year, he said, "I was worried because I was hurt in the beginning, but it was good to be able to come to the first division at the end of the first half and play until the end of the season. I won (against Kiwoom on October 16, 2021) and saved (against Lotte on July 20, 2024) for the first time since moving to Samsung, and I was so happy to have the opportunity to play in the Korean Series."
He pitched three times in the Korean Series against the Kia Tigers, and lost one game without a victory. His ERA was 5.40. It was not satisfactory, but he also made meaningful achievements. "I gained confidence by throwing changeups around my body against left-handed hitters. I will make more practical use of them by enhancing my completeness."
Lee Sang-min gained the trust of the bench with his stable pitching, increasing his role and weight and increasing the number of times he took the mound in a close game. Regarding the expression "must-win group," he lowered himself, saying, "There are so many things I lack," and added, "It's thanks to coach Jung Dae-hyun and coach Kang Young-sik's good views and help me a lot."
He also expressed his gratitude, saying, "It was very difficult when I was in the rehabilitation team at the beginning of the season, but coach Chung Hyun-wook said good things, which was a great help."
"I made my first save since my debut against Lotte on July 20, but it doesn't mean much because the score difference is huge. After making my first save, (Oh) Seung-hwan told me to buy pizza by pointing at a specific brand," he said.
Was there any regret that he failed to achieve his first double-digit hold since his debut? "I regret that if it were not for my injury in the early days of the season, I would have liked to try it once. I felt the importance of taking care of my body a lot, and I am preparing hard to prevent my injury," Lee said.
Lee Sang-min's winter training partner is left-handed veteran Baek Jeong-hyun (38). "When I have a problem, I always confide in him, and he always gives me an answer," said Lee, who is learning a lot from Baek. "I have a lot to learn from him." 메이저사이트
Lee Sang-min, who married Choi Song-yi on April 14, said, "I am very grateful that you supported me when I was released from Kiwoom. I am not good at expressing myself as a man from Gyeongsang Province, but I always thank you and love you. I will do well in baseball and give you a boost."
On this season's goal, he said, "I have no goal in terms of figures, and my goal is to finish the season without injury. My biggest goal is to win the Korean Series. I was so upset as I was the runner-up last year. I want to avenge that regret."