“Of course, I wanted to go one more inning.”

Hanwha Eagles foreign pitcher KODI Ponce (31) threw a total of 101 pitches until the 7th inning against NC on the 20th, allowing 1 hit, no walks, and striking out 13 without giving up a run, leading the team to a 7-1 victory and a 7-game winning streak.

In the 4th inning, after 1 out, he allowed a single to Kim Joo-won, breaking his perfect game at 10 batters in a row, but then retired another 11 batters consecutively. He threw a total of 50 fastballs with a maximum speed of 157 km/h and an average of 154 km/h, mixing in 23 changeups, 16 sliders, and 12 curves. The quality of all his pitches was so high that nothing was missing, and the NC hitters were caught off guard.

Following a performance on the 15th against SSG, where he pitched 7 innings allowing 1 hit, 3 walks, and striking out 12 without giving up a run, Ponce recorded his second consecutive scoreless game with double-digit strikeouts. After throwing 98 pitches, he took 4 days of rest before this game, but his pitches were powerful, and after finishing the 7th inning, he showed his intention to pitch one more inning by extending one finger while looking at manager Kim Kyung-moon and pitching coach Yang Sang-moon in the dugout.

Despite being urged by the coaching staff to leave the game, Ponce’s determination was impressive. After the game, Ponce said, “I still had the desire to compete, and of course, I wanted to pitch one more inning. I wanted to save our bullpen for the next series,” adding, “I pitch with a competitive spirit in every game. I am satisfied with that part today as well.”

Ponce's competitive spirit was even more surprising because it was displayed against the backdrop of sudden bleeding from his finger. After the game, blood was found on Ponce's uniform pants. During the game, he was seen wiping the blood from his finger onto his pants, and judging by the bloodstains on his pants after the game, the bleeding was considerable.

I thought the bleeding was due to a ruptured blister on his finger or a broken nail, but it wasn't. Ponce's right index finger was bleeding from the start of the game. During the preparation for the game, he scratched his finger while hurriedly doing something, causing the bleeding, and Ponce was aware of it when he went up to the mound.

However, Ponce, who threw a fastball at 153 km/h from the first pitch, measured 157 km/h on his 100th pitch in the 7th inning. It was the fastest pitch of the season for Ponce. Even while bleeding, he continued to throw strong pitches. Of the 13 strikeouts that day, 9 were recorded with fastballs, showcasing his power. Catcher Choi Jae-hoon also said, “The power of the fastball was so good that I wanted it more. I thought it would be effective to show a breaking ball before using the fastball, so I led the game that way, and it worked well.”

The drop of his main weapon, the ‘quick change-up’ was no different from usual, as he pressed on his finger. Even with blood on his finger, there was no disruption in his pitching, and rather, he delivered his best performance of the season. After throwing 101 pitches, he was so immersed in the competition that he shouted “one more inning” and forgot about the pain.

Ponce, who surpassed Ryu Hyun-jin to become Hanwha's opening day starter, has already been recognized for his powerful pitching and execution as one of the best, even getting early acclaim from other teams. Although it has only been a month since the season started, and further evaluation is necessary, he is proving that the preseason evaluations were correct with a record of 4 wins, a 2.31 earned run average, 56 strikeouts, and a WHIP of 0.97 over 6 games (39 innings), with a batting average against of .212. His performance is more impressive than the statistics.

His skills are good, but his leadership and fighting spirit, uncommon for a foreign player, shine through. In the opening game of Hanwha Life’s ballpark on the 28th against KIA, after the 5th inning, he gathered the struggling hitters, instilling fighting spirit and leading them to a comeback victory. Today, his blood-soaked fighting spirit resonated once again.

Without any significant adjustment period, Ponce quickly adapted to the KBO League, ending the brutal history of foreign pitchers for Hanwha. He said, “I met great catchers. I throw the pitches they call with 100% trust,” showing his humility.

Given Ponce's current pitching ability, he could challenge Ryu Hyun-jin’s KBO League record of 17 strikeouts in a single game. However, Ponce said, “It would be nice to set a record, but my goal is to maintain my health and complete the season. My role is to help the team advance to the championship.”

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