A current big leaguer, brought in for 1.4 billion won, is struggling with walks and failing to perform the role of the ace starter. The major league class of 28 wins seems to have disappeared as the player is currently leading in walks and hit batsmen, which is truly frustrating.
Doosan Bears ace Colin O'Brien took the mound as a starter in the 9th game of the season against KT Wiz at Suwon KT Wiz Park on the 29th, issuing more walks, pitching 4⅔ innings, allowing 7 hits, 6 walks, striking out 2, and giving up 7 runs (6 earned), resulting in his 5th loss (5 wins) of the season.
Doosan successfully turned the tides with a surprise 5-inning shutout by high school rookie Choi Min-seok on the 28th. The next day, as the current big leaguer ace took the mound, expectations for a winning streak soared after a two-week gap since facing Hanwha Eagles on the 14th. However, O'Brien dashed the hopes of the club and fans by failing again. The ace starter ruined another game, contributing to a 2-12 loss.
From the bottom of the first inning, after two outs, Ahn Hyun-min (double) and Mel Rojas Jr. (infield single) reached base consecutively, placing the team in a 1st and 3rd base crisis. However, he finished the inning without allowing a run by getting Jang Sung-woo to hit a grounder to the shortstop. In the bottom of the second inning, starting with a single by Moon Sang-cheol, he faced Kim Sang-su, who hit into a double play, and then sent Kim Sang-su back to the dugout with a flyout to center field.
O'Brien allowed his first run in the bottom of the 3rd inning when the score was 0-0. The misplay that allowed leadoff batter Kwon Dong-jin to reach base with a bunt was the cause. He managed to retire Hwang Jae-kyun with a choice play at first base and breathed a sigh of relief, but he issued a walk to Bae Jung-dae after 7 pitches, then gave up a run-scoring hit to Rojas with 2 outs and runners on 1st and 2nd base. He managed to escape a bases-loaded crisis that followed with Jang Sung-woo’s walk by getting Moon Sang-cheol to ground out to second base.
The bottom of the 4th inning was problematic due to walks. After walking leadoff batter Huh Kyung-min with a straight walk, he faced Kim Sang-su and was in a favorable count of 0B-2S but threw 4 balls in a row, creating a crisis with runners on 1st and 2nd base. Following this, in a situation with 1 out and runners on 2nd and 3rd due to Kwon Dong-jin's sacrifice bunt, he allowed a 2-run single to the left by pinch hitter Jang Jin-hyuk. Although O'Brien struck out the next batters Bae Jung-dae and Ahn Hyun-min, his command was too delayed.
The bottom of the 5th inning, trailing 1-3, was a nightmare. After consecutive hits from leadoff batter Rojas and Jang Sung-woo, O'Brien faced Moon Sang-cheol and allowed a sacrifice fly. He then walked Huh Kyung-min and issued a straight walk to Kwon Dong-jin, putting himself in a bases-loaded situation with 2 outs, prompting the Doosan bench to make a move and hand the baton to left-handed veteran Ko Hyo-jun.
Ko Hyo-jun, who had rested for five days, was also not in top form. He allowed a force walk to the first batter Jang Jin-hyuk and committed a wild pitch, giving up 2 runs in an instant. He also walked Bae Jung-dae, and then allowed Ahn Hyun-min a grand slam homer into left, completely turning the momentum in favor of the opponent.
O'Brien’s inherited runners scored, resulting in a final score of 7 runs, with 6 earned runs recorded. It was a moment when his season earned run average soared from 3.73 to 4.28.
Colin O'Brien, who became a Doosan player for a total of $1 million (approximately 1.4 billion won), is a former major leaguer who played in the major leagues until last year. He debuted in the major leagues with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2019, passing through the Oakland Athletics, Baltimore Orioles, and Minnesota Twins, and last year left a record of 1 loss with an earned run average of 12.27 over 4 games on the major league mound. He has a rich career with a total of 134 games (93 starts), 593 innings, 28 wins, and 40 losses, with an earned run average of 4.54 over 6 seasons in the major leagues.
O'Brien was early on selected as the Doosan ace from spring camp and was expected to compete for the top foreign player position along with Cody Ponce (Hanwha Eagles) and James Naile (KIA Tigers). However, he has struggled with a record of 5 wins and 5 losses and an earned run average of 4.28 over 12 games. In May, he fell into a slump with 1 win and 3 losses and an earned run average of 6.57, completely losing the form of a current big leaguer.
O'Brien's biggest flaw is walks and hit batters. Despite possessing a powerful pitching repertoire, he issues walks and hit batsmen, making it difficult for himself during games. Occasionally, he shows crisis management abilities, but in the case of May, his frequent walks mostly led to large runs. O'Brien's WHIP (walks and hits per inning pitched) reached 1.31 (21st), leading the league in both walks (35) and hit batsmen (11).
Last year, Doosan's foreign pitchers, including Raul Alcantara, Brandon Waddell, Keisho Shirakawa, and Jordan Balazovic, all struggled with injuries and poor performance, failing to deliver effective starts. Therefore, they had to laboriously bring in a current big leaguer with 28 career big league wins, but upon opening the season, it's Jack Logg who has been performing the role of the ace starter.
Alongside the struggles in his performance, O'Brien found himself embroiled in various controversies, including sharp exchanges with Park Byung-ho (Samsung Lions) and shoulder bumps towards catchers and pitching coaches. For Doosan to avoid repeating the harsh fate with foreign pitchers, O'Brien must quickly restore the dignity and quality of a big leaguer. As the team continues to wander in 9th place, there is a pressing need for the ace starter to deliver more overwhelming pitching.
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