It was a starting appearance after two weeks. However, the gap of those two weeks was larger than expected. KIA Tigers' Yoon Young-cheol could not overcome his struggle and shed tears.

Yoon Young-cheol (21) took the mound as a starter in the game against the Lotte Giants at Sajik Stadium in Busan on the 10th, recording 6 hits (1 home run), 1 walk, 1 hit batter, and 6 earned runs in 1 inning before being pulled. The team wore the burden of defeat as they lost 3-8.

Yoon Young-cheol took the mound after two weeks. He was scheduled to start against Samsung in Gwangju on the 1st. However, that game was canceled in mourning for the casualties from a structure collapse incident that occurred at NC Park in Changwon. Yoon Young-cheol's start was postponed. He was also slated to start against LG in Jamsil on the 5th, but that game was also canceled due to rain.

In the end, he had to take the mound after two weeks. Amid a challenging start to the season, manager Lee Beom-ho created a starting rotation with a higher probability of winning, which inevitably delayed Yoon Young-cheol's turn.

Manager Lee Beom-ho noted, "We had some injuries early on and were on a losing streak, so we had to find a method with a higher probability, which led to (Yoon) Young-cheol's start being delayed. I was thinking of around 90 pitches today. I believe Young-cheol has prepared well to start again. I pray that he pitches long innings as a starter." Although it was a long-awaited appearance, he still expressed anticipation.

In the first inning, he handled lead-off hitter Hwang Seong-bin's surprise bunt well with the help of catcher Kim Tae-gun. He gave up a single to Ko Seung-min, and handled Jeon Min-jae's ground ball to third for the second out, creating a 2 out, 1 on situation. He induced RAY into a ground ball to the shortstop to complete a solid first inning.

The second inning was problematic. Yoon Young-cheol faced a crisis in the blink of an eye. He allowed a single to lead-off hitter Yoo Gang-nam and, against Kim Min-seong, after getting him to 2 strikes, threw a slider that hit the batter. It was a critical walk allowed by Yoon Young-cheol.

In the end, he allowed a three-run home run to Na Seung-yeop. In a disadvantageous count of 2 balls and 1 strike, a 138 km fastball went high and caught the bat of Na Seung-yeop. It was a massive home run with a distance of 130 meters.

He did not find stability afterward. He was hit hard. He gave up consecutive hits to Jung Hoon and Jeon Min-jae, facing a crisis with no outs and runners on 1st and 2nd, and then allowed Hwang Seong-bin a timely hit to left. In the continued situation with no outs and runners on 1st and 2nd, he again allowed a walk to Ko Seung-min, setting up a no outs loaded bases crisis before he left the mound.

Hwang Dong-ha, who followed Yoon Young-cheol, induced Jeon Min-jae into a ground ball to the second baseman, trading an out for a run, and handled RAY with a sacrifice fly. Yoon Young-cheol's earned runs increased to 6.

Returning to the dugout and watching Hwang Dong-ha's pitching, Yoon Young-cheol shed hot tears. It seemed a mixture of self-reproach for not showing his pitching properly in an appearance after two weeks and apologies to his teammates.

Yoon Young-cheol, who joined the 2023 rookie draft as the second overall pick in the first round, recorded 8 wins and 7 losses with an earned run average of 4.04 in 25 games this year. The Rookie of the Year went to Moon Dong-joo (Hanwha), but he showed potential by taking on a full-time starting rotation as a pure rookie.

He was a player with great potential going forward. His always smiling face raised expectations for the future of the KIA mound. However, on this day, he could not smile. A significant trial loomed over Yoon Young-cheol. These tears symbolize Yoon Young-cheol's growing pains. Will Yoon Young-cheol be able to move beyond the tears of this day and become a greater player?

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