Choi Won-ho, 스포츠토토the new manager of the Hanwha Eagles, expected Moon Dong-joo (20), a 2nd-year professional ‘new ace’, to become the best pitcher in 4-5 years.
Head coach Choi Won-ho looked back on the 6th start of the season with Moon Dong-joo, the “Fireballer,” ahead of the 2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League SSG Landers match held at SSG Landers Field in Incheon on the 14th.
Moon Dong-ju started on the 13th in the 5th game of the season against SSG and lost. He failed to fill even 3 innings. He allowed 2 runs from the 1st inning, and in the 2nd inning, he allowed no runs, but in the 3rd inning, the number of runs increased as he was hit by the first pitch.
His record is 7 hits, 5 walks and 7 runs in 2⅓ innings. SSG coach Kim Won-hyung, the “enemy captain,” also said, “Opponent pitcher Moon Dong-ju has a good breaking ball, but he is also fast. However, it seems that he had difficulties with his control yesterday.”
Coach Choi said of Moon Dong-ju, “Actually, Moon Dong-ju is a pitcher with good pitches, but he is not a pitcher with pitches. Pitchers cannot ignore pitching. He can’t always pitch when the pitcher is good. Even when he’s bad, he has to have the ability to drag. This ability does not come suddenly. He must have experience. Dongju is still lacking in experience,” he said.
That’s right. SSG ace Kim Kwang-hyun and KIA Tigers ace Yang Hyeon-jong do not come out until the redemption of their heyday. However, they are still pitchers representing Korean baseball. They are pitchers who can lead at least 5-6 innings.
However, after their professional debut in 2007, they have gone through all kinds of prenatal battles and are now where they are. Director Choi said, “We need to accumulate more experience. After gaining 4-5 years of experience, Dong-ju has the qualities to become the best pitcher when he reaches his mid-20s.”
Director Choi said, “It’s just that my career is still a bit short. Due to the lack of know-how, the ability to overcome is still inevitably lacking. I am just a sophomore in college. It’s really hard when you don’t. I also once gave up 8 runs in 1 inning in a season where I won 13 wins (2005 at LG),” empathizing with Dong-ju Moon’s growing pains.
Moon Dong-ju easily throws a fastball of 155 km/h. Throwing up to 160 km, he is expected to be the future of Korean baseball. His performance this season is 2 wins and 3 losses in 6 games, and an earned run average of 4.20. Attention is focusing on how much growth the ‘Fireballer’ Dong-ju Moon, who has been in the starting lineup this season, will show in the future.