Improved ball repellency
ABS is an advantage for batters.
The bullpens of each KBO League team have been struggling since spring. As home runs are pouring in, pitchers are having a hard time holding on. As of the 22nd, the 10 KBO teams have hit a combined 240 home runs in 124 games. That’s 1.94 per game. This time last year, each club hit 145 home runs in 125 games. That’s 1.16 per game. Compared to last year, home runs increased by nearly 70% this season.
There are various interpretations of the increase in home runs. First of all, it is the repulsion force of the official ball. According to the results of the first regular inspection announced by KBO on the 22nd of last month, the average coefficient of restitution of the official ball was 0.4208, a slight increase from 0.4175 last year. There is also talk about the Automatic Pitching System (ABS). The point is that batters are benefiting from a consistent strike zone. The fact that pitchers increased the proportion of courses with high pitches in line with the ABS zone may also have had an impact. Even if the ball is not in good control, the high ball ends up being a good pitch for a home run. There is also the possibility that the opening somewhat earlier than usual may have affected the condition of pitchers at the beginning of the season.
As of today, each club’s bullpen has recorded an average ERA of 4.91 over 960.2 innings in 125 games. During the same period last year, the average ERA was 4.08 in 924 innings.
The KT bullpen, ranked 10th, is having a particularly difficult start to the season. He played a total of 103 innings in 26 games, with an ERA of 7.75. Even compared to the next highest, Lotte and Kiwoom (5.29 each), the difference is large.
As of today, KIA, which is in first place by two games, also has the most solid bullpen power. The lowest ERA among relief pitchers is 4.07. Im Ki-young, who played the most innings in the bullpen last season, left the team due to injury, but there was no major impact. Among the 10 clubs, the drop is the largest.
Changes in LG and Samsung are noticeable compared to last season. Samsung, which suffered a lot due to poor tailbacks, has seen a remarkable change in the quality and quantity of its bullpen this year. As of today, the number of bullpen innings is 112.1, the most in the league, and the average ERA is 4.33, ranking 3rd in the league. Choi Ha-neul, who has settled in as a relief pitcher this season, is also playing very well. He appeared only 11 times in relief, allowing only 3 runs in 15.2 innings.
‘Defending champion’ LG is feeling the full impact of the large-scale departure of key bullpen resources. With 26 games played this season, the number of innings pitched by LG’s bullpen pitchers is 96.2 innings, a decrease of 15.1 innings compared to 112 innings during the same period last year.
