3 runs allowed in ⅔ innings against KIA on the 23rd… first loss of the season
First earned run recorded in the 11th game in April
[서울=뉴시스]Reporter Park Yoon-seo = Kiwoom Heroes’ key bullpen pitcher Cho Sang-woo (30), who was slowly getting back on track, collapsed again.
Cho Sang-woo appeared in relief in the ‘2024 Shinhan Sol Bank KBO League’ game against the KIA Tigers held at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on the 23rd and performed poorly, allowing 3 hits, 1 walk, and 3 runs in ⅔ innings.
Kiwoom used Cho Sang-woo, a sure-winner, in the 10th overtime when the score was tied 2-2. Jo Sang-woo treated lead hitter Han Jun-su with a grounder to first base and then hit a right-handed hit by Choi Won-jun. Afterwards, Chan-ho Park was struck out with a missed swing, but he gave up a hit and a walk to Ho-ryeong Kim and Do-young Kim, respectively, leaving the bases loaded with two outs.
In the end, he was unable to end the inning on his own and gave up a 2-RBI hit in a match against Choi Hyeong-woo. After Cho Sang-woo went down the mound, Socrates Brito hit a timely hit, increasing the number of runs conceded.
Kiwoom lost 2-5, and Cho Sang-woo suffered his first loss of the season.
Cho Sang-woo, who debuted as a professional in 2013 wearing the uniform of Nexen (now Kiwoom), is a top relief pitcher in the league with 82 saves and 48 holds in 312 games. He also recorded double-digit saves for three consecutive years from 2019 to 2021, which was his final season before enlisting in the military.
Cho Sang-woo, who enlisted in March 2022, was discharged after completing his service as a social worker in December last year. After completing his military service, he stepped onto the KBO League mound for the first time in three years this year.
Perhaps because it has been a long time since he played a game, Cho Sang-woo left pitches below expectations in the first two games. In the game against the LG Twins on the 29th of last month, which was his first appearance of the season, he struggled, allowing 1 hit, 2 walks, and 1 run in 1 inning, and the very next day against LG, he hit a 1-run home run.
It was impossible to see Cho Sang-woo using a ball as fast as 150 km per hour. Overall, the fastball velocity was limited to the low 140 km/h range. According to KBO League statistics site Stats, Cho Sang-woo’s average fastball speed in two games against LG stayed at 143.9 km/h (29th) and 140.3 km/h (30th), respectively. Cho Sang-woo’s average fastball speed in the 2021 season is 147.6 km per hour.
In April, Cho Sang-woo changed. In his first 10 games, he pitched 10 innings, giving up only 4 hits and 3 walks while allowing one run (unearned book). Three holds were also accumulated.
Cho Sang-woo was able to demonstrate his skills as his fastball velocity gradually increased. In the game against KT Wiz on the 16th, his fastball average speed was 146.5 km, and in the match against Doosan Bears on the 21st, his average speed rose to 147.2 km. He also threw a fastball at 149 km/h against the Doosan batting lineup.
However, the upward trend was halted. On the 23rd, they faced trouble again in the game against KIA, and their streak of 10 consecutive games without a penalty came to a halt. There was no problem with velocity, but he had difficulty competing with the batter and was unable to control him in the end.
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