The 7 billion won free agent (FA) Choi Won-tae (pitcher) of the Samsung Lions showcased a perfect game against the KIA Tigers in Gwangju on the 10th. He held the mound until the 6th inning without giving up a single run. This was his first scoreless outing since transferring to Samsung. He struck out 7 Samjin. This marks his 5th win of the season.

Choi Won-tae said after the game, "I was not good in the previous game because I lacked control over the tempo. (Kim) Jae-sung knew that and mixed in changeups and curves well to give me good signs. The breaking balls worked well today. I was able to use all my breaking balls and fastballs, which was nice. I threw a lot of fastballs in the 6th inning. I want to thank Jae-sung."

The key to his scoreless outing was running. Choi Won-tae explained, "Coach Choi Il-eon gave me a special order to run a lot. I run 80-90 meters at about 80-90% effort. From the next day, I run 10 times twice, and the following day I sprint short distances. Running is tough, but I felt really good during the game. I don't lose strength when I pitch, and I think that helps me maintain my velocity." He found a clue in running.

Ahead of the game against the KT Wiz on the 13th, manager Park Jin-man met with reporters and noted, "These days, we do a lot of weight training, but we shouldn't neglect the training we did in the past. There’s a reason why we did a lot of running. There's no way to balance without just running."

Manager Park Jin-man further added, "In the past, we ran a lot regardless of whether we were pitchers or fielders. But these days, it seems players aren’t running as much. I think a lot of hamstring injuries are due to this. We hardly had hamstring injuries in the past. I personally have never had a hamstring injury."

Coaches with backgrounds as excellent pitchers also emphasized the importance of running. Former national team coach Sun Dong-ryul, who was praised as a national treasure-level pitcher during his active days, pointed out, "These days, amateur pitchers do not run much. Pitchers need to run a lot to strengthen their lower bodies, which enhances their growth rate and allows them to throw better pitches. It’s hard to find players who work hard on running."

Similarly, Ochi Ai Eiji, who served as a pitching coach during the Samsung Dynasty, noted, "Recently, the emphasis on weight training has increased, but in my opinion, the most important training for pitchers is running. It's crucial to run consistently. A pitcher with good running posture also has good pitching balance."

If one wants to find a clue for a rebound like Choi Won-tae, isn't running and running the best method?

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