SSG’s ‘native ace’ Kim Kwang-hyun (35) wins the award. Something is not right with his pace. He’s struggling on the mound. I’ve never seen him like this before. He needs to rebound.

Kim Kwang-hyun started the final game of a three-game midweek series against Samsung in the 2023 KBO League regular season at Samsung Lions Park in Daegu on Sunday and gave up four runs (three earned) on four hits (one home run) with five strikeouts and three walks in four innings.

His fastball was up to 147 mph. His slider also topped out at 140 mph. It’s not like he didn’t have power. The problem was his fastball. The five strikeouts speak for themselves. This is the most strikeouts in a game this season.체스카지노

It’s hard to play with free bases. My pitch count increased. I threw 97 pitches until the fourth inning. The runs kept coming, and in the end, we couldn’t complete the fifth inning. I came down from 4-4 and didn’t win or lose.

It wasn’t like Kim Kwang-hyun. He’s a veteran, but he’s still one of the best pitchers in the league. Before this day, he had a 6-2 record in 15 games, 82 innings pitched, and a 3.84 ERA. Today’s performance raised his season ERA to 3.98.

His recent form hasn’t been great. July has been his worst month, with a 1-1 record and a 6.10 ERA in four appearances, including this one.

SSG’s Kim Kwang-hyun pitches against Doosan in the 2023 KBO League at SSG Landers Field in Incheon on July 12. Literature | Kang Young-jo kanjo@sportsseoul.com

Streaky. On the 6th, he gave up seven runs in 4.1 innings against KIA. Against Doosan on the 12th, he pitched 6.1 scoreless innings for a Quality Start (QS).

Again against LG on the 21st, he gave up 4 runs in 6 innings. Still, he got the win. The next day, he was again embarrassed when he was pulled early. He often frowned as if he wasn’t happy with his pitches.

It’s been a season of twists and turns. In March, the team traveled to the 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC). They were eliminated in the first round. In the aftermath of this, he struggled in April with a 5.00 ERA in four games.

In May, he bounced back with a 2.31 ERA in four games. His worst outing was five innings and two runs (one earned). The power of an ace.

In June, he was shaken by off-field issues. He was briefly dropped from the first team and disciplined. In his first start against the NC on the 11th, he struggled with four runs in 4.1 innings. In the next three games, he pitched well with 5 innings of 3 runs, 7 innings of no runs, and 7.2 innings of 1 run.

He seemed to be back on track, but faltered again in July. It’s not like he has any specific injury. He seems to be struggling mentally. He’s a veteran who’s been through it all, but tough times happen to everyone.

Kim Kwang-hyun has to overcome it himself. He has the ability to do that. He’s not an ace for nothing. Coach Kim Won-hyung’s faith is firm. If he pitches well in his next start, he can get back on his feet.