The opportunity to be in the first team after 294 days has ended in vain. The 'sore thumb' of the Lotte Giants has been a love-hate existence for nine years. The 'control issues' that always come with a label could not be shaken off this time either.
Lotte pitcher Yoon Seong-bin started as the starting pitcher in the game against the LG Twins at Sajik Stadium in Busan on the 20th. Before the game, Lotte manager Kim Tae-hyung said, "I am actually looking forward to how Seong-bin will pitch today. Depending on the situation, we will either end the pitch count or keep going," adding that walks are a key point.
Yoon Seong-bin threw a 157 km strike on the first pitch against Park Hae-min. The crowd erupted with a "wow~" cheer. The second pitch was also a strike at 156 km. He struck out swinging with a 157 km fastball for the third pitch. The Lotte cheerleaders were surprised and celebrated the strikeout. Lotte fans went wild.
The first pitch against Moon Sung-joo was a 156 km fastball that was fouled. The second pitch was a 124 km curve, resulting in two strikes. The third pitch, a 146 km forkball, was slightly inside, allowing a single to left field. He struck out Kim Hyun-soo with three pitches. Following a 156 km fastball strike, he threw a 142 km and a 143 km forkball, resulting in consecutive swings and misses.
Up to this point, it was good. After throwing a ball to Moon Bo-kyung with two outs and a runner on first base, an issue arose with Yoon Seong-bin's pitchcom. After trying to replace the device, it functioned normally a moment later, but broke down again at three balls. The game was briefly interrupted again while replacing the pitchcom equipment.
Moon Bo-kyung was issued a straight walk. Oh Ji-hwan was hit by a pitch on the second pitch (slider), resulting in two outs and the bases loaded. He allowed a walk on three consecutive balls to Song Chan-yi after throwing 1 ball and 2 strikes.
The 157 km fastball thrown to Koo Bon-hyeok in a full count allowed a two-RBI hit to center field. Pitching coach Joo Hyung-kwang visited the mound and left. He ended the inning by getting Ham Chang-keun out on a 156 km fastball to right field.
However, in the second inning, he issued a walk to lead-off batter Lee Joo-heon. In the Lotte bullpen, Park Jin and Kim Gang-hyeon began warming up. Park Hae-min was also walked. With no outs and runners on first and second, he allowed a one-RBI hit to Moon Sung-joo.
He issued a straight walk to Kim Hyun-soo, leading to another no outs and the bases loaded crisis. He allowed a walk to Moon Bo-kyung. Oh Ji-hwan's off-target hit could not be caught by the pitcher and turned into an infield single in front of the second baseman. Ultimately, he was pulled from the game down 0-6.
Park Jin, who came in as a relief pitcher with the bases loaded, allowed a grand slam home run to Song Chan-yi, bringing Yoon Seong-bin's earned runs to 9. He finished with 1 inning, 4 hits allowed, 6 walks, 1 hit batter, and 9 earned runs.
Yoon Seong-bin, who joined Lotte as the first overall pick in 2017, has not been able to show his potential for nine years. Until last year, his career stats in the first team included 21 games, 2 wins, 7 losses, and an earned run average of 7.47. He recorded 2 wins, 5 losses, and an earned run average of 6.39 over 18 games in 2018, but since then, he has pitched only 3 games in the first team over seven years. He has appeared in 1 game in 2019, 1 game in 2021, and 1 game in 2024.
On July 30 last year, Yoon Seong-bin entered as a substitute starter against SSG in Incheon, recording 1 inning, 4 hits allowed (1 home run), 2 walks, 1 strikeout, and 5 earned runs. He left a disastrous performance in his first starting opportunity in 294 days.
In an interview at the end of April, Yoon Seong-bin noted, "The stress about walks has decreased a bit. Even if I issue walks, I have confidence that I can strike out the next batter." However, on this day, on the rare occasion he had a chance in the first team, his once shaky control could not find its rhythm again.
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