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KIA Tigers right-handed pitcher Hong Won-bin (24) faced trials on the first team stage. After being selected in the second round of the 2019 draft, he struggled for 7 years without debuting but was finally called up to the first team on May 30. He shed his status as a developmental player and was assigned the number 30. Since being drafted in 2019, he finally stepped onto the first team stage. It was an emotionally overwhelming call-up.

On the 3rd, he was finally given the opportunity to debut during the game against Doosan at Jamsil. He came out as the last pitcher in the bottom of the 9th inning, leading 11-2. Perhaps due to nerves, he walked the first batter. He caught the next batter with a fly ball to center field, but a 151 km fastball from Kim Dong-jun turned into a hit, leading to a crisis on first and third base, and he allowed a sacrifice fly, recording his first run. He ended his first appearance by striking out the last batter, Kim In-tae, with a 140 km slider.

If his debut game was away, this time he was given another opportunity in front of the home crowd. After failing to get an appearance opportunity for a week, he took the mound in the 8th inning of the game against Samsung in Gwangju on the 10th, trailing 0-3. However, he walked the first batter, Diaz. He caught Kim Young-ung with a ground ball to second base but allowed another walk against Kim Jae-sung.

There was a wild pitch during Park Seung-kyu's at-bat, and he gave up a hit to left field. He handled Park Byung-ho with a fastball to a fly ball to shortstop but allowed another wild pitch during Yang Do-geun's at-bat, resulting in a bases-loaded situation with another walk. Eventually, he was substituted, ending his appearance. Following him, Kim Hyun-soo hit a grand slam to left field against Lee Jae-hyun, increasing the runs allowed to 4.

Although he was highly anticipated as a first-round draft pick, he was hampered by control issues. In 2020, Jeong Hae-young, who was selected in the first round, took the role of a closer from his second year; Lee Eui-ri, who received the first overall pick in 2021, won the Rookie of the Year award for the Tigers after 35 years; Kim Do-young, who emerged as a top hitter in the KBO League as a first-round pick in 2022; and Choi Ji-min, who became a powerful winning man and was a second-round first pick in 2022, and Yoon Young-cheol, who established himself as a starting pitcher from the rookie season as a first-round pick in 2023, all made a successful rise since their rookie days.

Before this season, he made a final effort with determination. He sought solutions by spending nearly half of his salary and visiting a training center in the U.S. He threw impressively in the spring camp in Kochi, Japan, showing balls over 150 km. His control also started to improve. He displayed a noticeably sharper slider. He was called up to the first team camp in Okinawa, where he threw a ball clocked at 154 km, earning recognition for his potential.

As a developmental player, he started the season in the second team. He took on the role of closer in the Futures League. Continuing to pitch for 1 inning at a time, he showcased his power, even recording an ERA in the 1-point range at one point. He participated in 20 games, achieving 3 wins, 3 losses, and 6 saves, with an ERA of 2.70. He demonstrated his effectiveness by striking out 17 batters over 19⅓ innings, but he still had control issues with 18 walks and 6 hit-by-pitches.

Having made 2 appearances in the first team, he recorded a line of 1⅔ innings with 2 hits allowed, 4 walks, 2 wild pitches, and 5 runs allowed, resulting in an ERA of 27.00. It was a harsh first experience. Control remained an issue, but he threw a ball at a maximum of 154 km. The experience in the first team itself was a significant gain. If he continues to progress steadily and accumulate experiences, he showed qualities to become a first-team pitcher. Hong Won-bin's professional career is just beginning.

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