“From next year, I have to play as a starting pitcher so that the team can find stability.”
The 4th game of the Korean series between Kiwoom Heroes and SSG Landers in the ‘2022 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO Postseason’ held at Gocheok Sky Dome on the 5th of last month. Lee Seung-ho (23), who no one expected, took the mound as the starting pitcher.
Lee Seung-ho only pitched in the bullpen in the 2022 season and recorded an ERA of 3.58 with 10 holds and 10 saves. In Game 4 of the Korean Series, he made his first start this season, but his pitching was unstoppable. He tied up the SSG lineup with 1 hit, 2 walks, 2 strikeouts and 1 run in 4 innings, contributing to the team’s 6-3 victory.
Lee Seung-ho, who took the mound as a starter in the last appearance of the season and made a clear impression by blocking the opponent, prepares for the next season as a starting pitcher.
Hyeong-wook Koh, general manager of 메이저놀이터 Kiwoom Kiwoom, said, “(Lee) Seung-ho has appeared a lot as a starter before. Due to the team’s circumstances, he was in charge of the bullpen for a while, but he has to play as a starter from next year for the team to find stability.”
Lee Seung-ho did not start in the regular season this year, but until then, he had consistently been a part of Kiwoom’s starting lineup. Since the 2018 season, the second year of his debut, he has been a starting pitcher every year and has 53 starts in his career. In particular, in the 2019 season, his first year as a full-time starter, he proved his potential with 8 wins, 5 losses, 122⅔ innings average ERA of 4.48 and 82 strikeouts, including one shutout (against Gocheok LG on May 8).
As for Kiwoom, it is nice to see Lee Seung-ho return to the starting lineup. This season, Kiwoom has a starting rotation of Eric Yokishi, Tyler Appler, and Choi Won-tae, starting with first starter An Woo-jin, but there were many things to be desired after the one-two punch. In order to create a stronger starting lineup, Appler was replaced by Ariel Furado, and Lee Seung-ho is also added, and Kiwoom’s starting lineup is expected to accelerate.
Director Koh also said, “One of Hurado and An Woo-jin will be the first starter. Yokishi is the third starter, and Choi Won-tae and Lee Seung-ho are the fourth starters. He explained his plans for next season.
Lee Seung-ho, who helped the bullpen with 10 holds and 10 saves this year, will move back to his original starting pitcher position. Attention is focusing on what effect Lee Seung-ho’s splendid return will have on the Kiwoom starting lineup.