‘Even Ryu Hyun-jin is dissatisfied’ KBO releases ABS pitching data: ZUM News

[이데일리 스타in 허윤수 기자] The KBO secretariat unusually disclosed pitching data for Ryu Hyun-jin (Hanwha Eagles) in response to complaints about the Automatic Pitching System (ABS).

The KBO released the pitch tracking judgment data on the 26th, saying there were many inquiries about ABS judgment data for specific pitches by Moon Dong-ju (Hanwha) on the 23rd and Ryu Hyun-jin against KT Wiz on the 24th.

In the game against KT on the 24th, Ryu Hyun-jin threw four consecutive balls at lead hitter Cho Yong-ho in the bottom of the third inning with a 1-0 lead. It was a scene that is not easily seen because Ryu Hyun-jin boasted excellent ball control in the American professional baseball Major League (MLB). In the end, Ryu Hyun-jin gave up 3 runs in the 3rd inning alone.

After the game, Ryu Hyun-jin said, “The 3rd pitch against Cho Yong-ho in the 3rd inning was ruled a low ball,” and raised questions, “When striking out Cho Yong-ho in the 5th inning, the 3rd pitch went in at almost the same height, but it was ruled a strike.” He then added, “The ball went further out in the 5th inning, so it should have been a ball.” The KBO released the pitch tracking judgment data from Sports2I, an ABS operator, and said, “In the 3rd inning of the game in which Ryu Hyun-jin took the mound, the 3rd pitch of Cho Yong-ho’s at-bat passed the bottom of the ABS middle zone by 0.15 cm, but passed the bottom of the ABS end zone by 0.78 cm. “I couldn’t pass due to the difference, so I was given a ball,” he explained. In addition, data on Cho Yong-ho’s three pitches at bat in the bottom of the fifth inning was also attached.

Data on Ryu Hyun-jin’s 3rd inning at-bat pitching by Cho Yong-ho. Photo = KBO

Ryu Hyun-jin’s 5th inning at-bat pitch data for Cho Yong-ho. Photo = KBO

KBO also released data on Moon Dong-joo’s pitch at bat for Cheon Seong-ho in the 4th inning on the 23rd and on the 24th for Ryu Hyun-jin’s pitch at bat for Cheon Seong-ho in the 1st inning, adding that the pitch positions are different.

Meanwhile, KBO introduced the ABS system to the first team starting this season. In ABS, a camera installed in a baseball field captures the trajectory of a pitcher’s ball, and a computer determines whether it is a strike or a ball and transmits it as an audio signal to an umpire wearing earphones.