Professional baseball player, Samsung Lions high school graduate rookie Cheon Gyeom savored the joy of becoming the winning pitcher in his debut appearance.

Cheon Gyeom, who excelled as an ace at Busan High School, made a name for himself in high school baseball by participating in the high school vs. university All-Star game last year. He took the mound 17 times in high school, recording 3 wins, no losses, and an earned run average of 2.12. He pitched 50⅔ innings, allowing 17 walks and striking out 51 Samjin.

Cheon Gyeom is evaluated as a starting pitcher with a smooth pitching form and stable control. His main weapons are the slider and curve. A team official noted, “We congratulate Cheon Gyeom on his first victory and hope it will enhance his confidence and motivate him to work harder.”

Samsung has established an internal training program for promising young pitchers who debuted in the professional league right after graduating from high school. The players involved undergo a program to improve power and pitching balance, led by pitching coach Kim Dong-ho. Cheon Gyeom also went through a build-up before making his debut in the Futures game.

Cheon Gyeom made his professional debut in a doubleheader against the Doosan Bears held at Gyeongsan Polpark on the 10th. He took the mound as the fourth pitcher in the fifth inning, tied 3-3, and retired Park Gye-beom (flyout to center field), Jang Seung-hyun (groundout to shortstop), and Hong Seong-ho (flyout to third base) in order.

In the sixth inning, Cheon Gyeom faced a crisis with one out and runners on first and second due to a hit by the first batter Kim Dong-jun and a sacrifice bunt by Park Jun-soon, but he struck out Son Yul-ki and retired Lee Dong-geon with a foul fly to first base.

Samsung seized an opportunity with one out and runners on first and third in the bottom of the sixth inning, taking the lead 4-3 with a hit to left field by Park Seung-kyu. The final score of the game was Samsung 4, Doosan 3. Starter Jeong Min-seong pitched well, going 3 innings with 2 hits allowed, 1 walk, 3 strikeouts, and no earned runs.

Cheon Gyeom decorated his debut appearance with two scoreless innings. Yang Chang-seop added a save in the seventh inning by retiring the three batters in order. Park Seung-kyu led the offense with 2 hits, including the game-winning hit, in 4 at-bats with 2 RBIs.

Doosan's starter Park Woong recorded 2⅔ innings with 4 hits allowed, 1 walk, 4 strikeouts, and 3 earned runs. Lee Kyo-hun, Choi Woo-in, Choi Se-chang, and Kim Ho-jun followed with relief appearances. Jang Seung-hyun and Kim Dong-jun achieved multi-hit games. Park Jun-soon added a hit, an RBI, and a run.

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