Foreign pitcher Ariel Hurado of the Samsung Lions is continuing his quality start streak in every game this season. What does quality start mean to him? He replied, "I think about training hard for a week to achieve a quality start. I am putting more effort into improving my control so that opposing batters cannot hit my pitches."
Hurado's exceptional ability to pitch innings is at a top league level. He is determined to take as many innings as possible every time he steps on the mound. He emphasized, "I believe that if I can pitch as many innings as possible, it helps manage the mound, such as reducing bullpen usage, and contributes to the team's victories. This all falls under the responsibility of a starting pitcher."
"It's not easy to throw more than 100 pitches every time I pitch, but I want to maintain good condition by training hard and resting well on my off days," said Hurado. He noted, "At some point, if I become fatigued, I may not be able to pitch as much, but for now, there are no issues. Since my physical condition is good, I will continue to pitch like this."
The Samsung starting rotation not only possesses excellent skills but also strong teamwork. After the game, the starting pitchers gather to celebrate their teammate who became the winning pitcher. In this regard, Hurado said, "We have a close relationship, but it was Won Tae-in who first suggested it. Every time a starting pitcher secures a win, we all gather to congratulate them."
Hurado has achieved a quality start in all eight of his appearances, showcasing the prowess of a number one starter every time he takes the mound. However, with a record of 2 wins and 3 losses and an earned run average of 2.21, he is far from lucky in terms of wins. Hurado smiled and said, "I think it's important to do my best at what I have to do. Contributing to the team's victory is much more important than accumulating wins for myself, so just being able to contribute to a team win is enough for me. When the team wins, it also gives me a great boost."
Having served as a good role model for young players since his time at Kiwoom, Hurado does not hesitate to offer advice that can be helpful not only to pitchers but also to batters after his transfer to Samsung. He stated, "Everyone is doing well, but I think that if I give them a little advice now and then, they can deliver even better performances, so I often share those thoughts. I do a lot of analytical work on both the opposing team and our team during games, which is why I provide a few words of advice."
Meanwhile, Hurado is set to start in the home game against the LG Twins on the 9th at Daegu Samsung Lions Park. Samsung has fallen into a five-game losing streak since their match against the Doosan Bears in Daegu on the 3rd. Will Hurado showcase his prowess as a number one starter and save the team in crisis?
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