"Samjin came out too much..."
KT Wiz pitcher So Hyung-jun (24) recorded double-digit Samjin strikeouts in two consecutive games for the first time in his career. However, it seemed that he regretted that the number of pitches increased due to the excess Samjin strikeouts.
On the 25th, So Hyung-jun started against Hanwha in Daejeon, throwing 6 innings with 1 hit, 1 walk, 10 Samjin strikeouts, and no earned runs, laying the foundation for KT's 2-1 victory. In the 7th inning, Son Dong-hyun gave up a game-tying solo home run to No Si-hwan, which cost him the win, but he recorded double-digit Samjin strikeouts in two consecutive games following a personal record of 11 strikeouts in a single game against Kiwoom on the 19th. It was his first record since his debut in 2020.
He was so powerful that he recorded all 6 outs in the 1st and 2nd innings as Samjin strikeouts. With a two-seam fastball that slightly curves at the end and a low-falling changeup, he continuously induced Samjin strikeouts. His command around the strike zone was so good that the Hanwha batters had no choice but to swing. If they didn't swing, it led to looking Samjin strikeouts on borderline calls.
The only hit he allowed was a triple to Lee Do-yoon in the 2nd inning, and he successfully achieved a quality start by getting 13 consecutive outs from 2 outs in the 2nd to the 6th. He threw a total of 97 pitches, reaching a top speed of 148 km/h, averaging 145 km/h with the two-seam fastball (56 pitches), along with a changeup (21 pitches), a cutter (19 pitches), and a curve (1 pitch). He maintained a strike rate of 70.1% (68/97), demonstrating good control. He achieved 8 ground ball outs with the two-seam working well.
After the game, So Hyung-jun said, "I think I got a lot of Samjin strikeouts due to good location. Senior Sungwoo's guidance was so good that I trusted and followed it well, and the results came out well," yet he seemed displeased with recording double-digit Samjin strikeouts in two consecutive games.
He noted, "A lot of Samjin strikeouts came out in the early stages. I wanted to induce ground balls while throwing fewer pitches, but that wasn’t easy. I thought it would be good if the batter hit quickly to get ground balls while throwing the first pitch strike. Unless it’s a three-pitch strikeout, you need to throw 4 to 5 pitches to one batter to get a Samjin strikeout. To make it easier, it’s better to induce ground balls in 1 to 2 pitches," expressing regret over not being able to pitch longer innings.
It was also a variable that this was his first appearance at Hanwha Life e-Park in Daejeon. The height of the mound, the condition of the dirt, and the sight towards the catcher felt unfamiliar due to the new environment. So Hyung-jun explained, "There were some difficulties at first. I needed to have a clear view towards the catcher when throwing, but since it was my first time, I couldn't get it right and was busy trying to throw strikes. From the 5th inning, I was able to catch my rhythm and throw while observing the course," continuing to strike out 8 batters aggressively while focusing only on the center through the 4th. Once he got used to his sight and found his target in the 5th, he only struck out 2 batters and induced ground balls, achieving his desired pitching.
With this, So Hyung-jun marked 5 games (31 innings) this season with 2 wins, 1 loss, an earned run average of 1.16, 35 Samjin strikeouts, and a WHIP of 0.94, as well as a batting average against of .216. He ranks 2nd in ERA, 4th in WHIP, and 10th in strikeouts. Particularly, his ERA ranks 1st among domestically registered pitchers, following KIA's James Neel (0.74). After undergoing ulnar collateral ligament surgery in May 2023 and returning to the mound as a reliever near the end of last season, this year marks his first full-time starting season, indicating a complete revival.
So Hyung-jun, who graduated from Yooshin High School and joined KT as the first overall pick in the 2020 draft, made a spectacular debut as he won 13 games in his rookie year. In 2022, he had a career high season with 13 wins and 6 losses while pitching 171⅓ innings in 27 games with an earned run average of 3.05 and 117 Samjin strikeouts, and this year he is expected to perform even better. His average velocity of the two-seam fastball has increased by 2 km/h compared to before surgery, and the cutter he started throwing in 2022 has also become sharper.
So Hyung-jun remarked, "After two years of rehabilitation, my body has gained strength. It seems that the tired body has recovered, and I am producing better pitches," adding, "I don’t pay attention to records like ERA. I think if I do, I will become conscious of it and want to focus only on the games ahead."
As this is his first return season after surgery, KT manager Lee Kang-cheol initially planned to manage So Hyung-jun on a 10-day rotation. After his first appearance of the season, he actually pitched again after 10 days of rest, but he has since been participating in a normal rotation. So Hyung-jun said, "I told the manager, 'It’s fine if I pitch twice a week or not.' After the opening game, I pitched once, rested for 10 days, and I feel great doing it," expressing confidence in his physical condition. "With the current form, I can become the number one pitcher in the league for the full season."
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