Cody Ponce (31) of the Hanwha Eagles concluded the first half of the season with an overwhelming performance. All the credit goes to catcher Choi Jae-hun (36).
Ponce is the star ace who has ignited the KBO league this season. He finished the first half with a record of 11 wins, an earned run average of 1.95, and 161 strikeouts over 18 games (115⅔ innings). He leads in key metrics like ERA, wins, and strikeouts, heightening the possibility of a Triple Crown.
In his final appearance of the first half against Kiwoom on the 4th, Ponce pitched 7 innings, allowing 5 hits, 1 walk, and striking out 11 while conceding 1 run, leading the team to victory. Kiwoom's ace, Raul Alcantara, also put on an impressive performance, pitching ⅓ inning with 7 hits, 1 walk, 7 strikeouts, and 1 run, but thanks to Ponce matching Alcantara's pitching, Hanwha secured a 2-1 victory.
After the game, Ponce emphasized the role of catcher Choi Jae-hun in an interview, saying, "The reason I was able to pitch 7 innings today was due to Choi Jae-hun's excellent pitch selection. Thanks to him, I was able to go the distance. If it weren't for Choi Jae-hun's pitch selection, I wouldn't have been able to pitch all the way."
Choi Jae-hun has been with Hanwha since being traded in 2017 and has served as the team's starting catcher for nine years. In November 2021, he signed a five-year maximum contract worth 5.4 billion won with Hanwha. This season, he has played 72 games with a batting average of .310 (48 hits in 155 at-bats), 1 home run, 20 RBIs, 19 runs, 1 stolen base, and an OPS of .824.
Ponce recalled the moment on the 3rd during the game against NC when Choi Jae-hun was injured and sighed in relief. Choi Jae-hun hit a double in the 4th inning that day but was replaced after colliding with Park Min-woo while running to second base, resulting in a right shoulder injury.
"There was a panic for a few minutes after Choi Jae-hun was replaced," Ponce said. "I immediately went to the trainer to ask if Choi Jae-hun was okay, and when I was told no, that caused even more panic. It turned out to be a joke. I told him not to make such jokes in the future," he said, laughing.
Choi Jae-hun recounted the situation, saying, "After I was replaced, he kept coming to check on me, asking if I was okay. When I said I wasn't, they gave me anti-inflammatory medication and kept talking to me. So when I said I could play in the next game, Ponce finally understood and stepped back."
Regarding Ponce consistently mentioning his role, Choi Jae-hun said, "Thank you. Ponce has been well-prepared even during the tough times. He didn't give up many runs in the last game, and I'm glad he finished the first half well. Ponce has his own strength, and he trusts the catcher well. I also need to meet that trust, so we talk a lot and prepare. It's rare for me to shake my head while pitching, maybe 2 to 3 times in a game. Even when he concedes runs, he takes responsibility. I'm proud as a catcher that he achieves good results."
"From a catcher's perspective, it's appreciated when the pitcher mentions me repeatedly," Choi Jae-hun said. "Catchers should lead pitchers silently. I tell him it's okay not to mention my name, but Ponce always does, which gives me strength. I want to prepare diligently and do my best too," he expressed gratitude toward Ponce.
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