Nc Dinosaurs pitcher Mok Ji-hoon has been a topic of discussion since before his enlistment. He gained recognition for shooting an advertisement for the hot chocolate brand "Mitte" with former coach Kim Sung-keun.

In 2011, 7-year-old Mok Ji-hoon was a young boy dreaming of becoming a baseball player. With a naive expression and tone, he attracted attention by asking coach Kim Sung-keun, "Can you play baseball well, grandpa?" The little boy from back then has grown up to be a true baseball player and has become a professional athlete who can stand confidently in front of coach Kim Sung-keun.

Mok Ji-hoon recorded his first professional win on the 7th against the Suwon KT Wiz. Before the game, Mok Ji-hoon had taken the mound three times without a win, suffering one loss and an earned run average of 9.28. This season, he had not pitched more than five innings in a single game, but he showcased a strong performance by holding the mound through the fifth inning, allowing only one run. Aside from a solo home run given up to Kang Baek-ho in the fifth inning, when the score was 6-0, his performance was nearly flawless. In particular, he did not allow a single walk and registered 5 Samjin.

After achieving his first victory, Mok Ji-hoon said, "I felt regret for allowing too many runs in my previous transfer, and today, I focused on reducing that. Watching (Kim) Nok-won hyung's debut, I felt a lot from the way he boldly faced challenges without backing down. I also had a desire to pitch more innings as a starting pitcher."

Mok Ji-hoon also said, "Before the game, (Park) Se-hyuk senior told me, 'Trust me and throw as you want,' which allowed me to pitch with more boldness and confidence. I sincerely thank the seniors who helped me achieve my first professional win, the coach who gave me the opportunity, and the training coach who supported me in maintaining good condition."

The NC lineup mercilessly trounced the KT pitchers, including rookie of the year winner Shin Hyung-jun, who was on the mound. They produced 12 runs on 13 hits and 7 walks. Cheon Jae-hwan showcased a one-man show with 3 hits, including a home run, and 5 RBIs. He set a new personal record for most RBIs in one game. Foreign player Matt Davidson had 3 hits in 4 at-bats with 2 RBIs and 1 run scored, while Han Seok-hyun recorded 3 RBIs.

Manager Lee Ho-jun said after the game, "In a situation where the team is on a winning streak, the youngest Mok Ji-hoon played a significant role. I sincerely congratulate him on his first professional win. Despite the score difference, the lineup maintained focus and effectively seized scoring opportunities, allowing us to manage the latter part of the game with ease."

He added, "I appreciate how the players have adapted well to the unexpected away schedule and changed circumstances while performing excellently. We'll prepare well for the next game to perform greatly again."

Meanwhile, NC is set to face the Doosan Bears in a weekend three-game series starting on the 9th at Jamsil Stadium.

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