LG Twins Lee Ji-kang (24) finally achieved his first win since his debut.
Lee Ji-kang pitched well in the away game against the KIA Tigers in the 2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League held at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field on the 19th, allowing 4 hits, 1 walk, 1 strikeout, and no runs in 5 innings.바카라
He started as a top 5 starter this season. Then he withdrew to the starting reserve position and was moved down to the second team. He appeared in 17 games this season and has no wins, 3 losses, and 1 hold, with an earned run average of 3.97. Lee Ji-gang, who was called up to the first team again at the end of August, appeared in three games as a bullpen in a long relief role, allowing no runs in 3⅓ innings.
As Choi Won-tae, who came through a trade from Kiwoom, was sent down to the second team due to poor performance, Lee Ji-gang was given the opportunity to replace him.
And he pitched well against Gwangju KIA, finally earning his first win since his debut.
Before the game, coach Yeom Gyeong-yeop expressed his wish, “I hope (Lee) Ji-gang can play for a long time.” He made the head coach’s wish come true.
Lee Ji-kang allowed consecutive hits to Na Seong-beom and Choi Hyeong-woo with two outs in the first inning, but Kim Sun-bin ended the first inning with a grounder to second base.
In the second inning, it was a three-way inning against Socrates, Hwang Dae-in, and Han Seung-taek. In the third inning, with a 1-0 lead thanks to Moon Bo-kyung’s home run, the team faced another crisis when, with two outs, a walk to Kim Do-young and a right-handed hit to Na Seong-beom were allowed. No. 4 Choi Hyeong-woo was caught with a fly ball to right field and did not give up a run.
Moon Bo-kyung’s consecutive home runs widened the gap to 4-0. Lee Ji-gang regained his stability in the fourth inning. Kim Seon-bin, Socrates, and Hwang Dae-in returned with fly balls and ground balls. In the 5th inning, with 2 outs, he was hit by Choi Won-jun, but he completed his mission by catching Kim Do-young with a fly ball to right field.
The total number of pitches is 72. He dominated the KIA batting lineup with 43 fastballs, 4 curves, 6 sliders, and 16 changeups with a maximum speed of 145 km.
The process of getting the first win was not smooth. This is because KIA’s pursuit was fierce. Starting with Choi Hyeong-woo’s solo home run in the 6th inning, Na Seong-beom’s 2 RBI and timely hit in the 8th made it 4-3.
LG played a game-winning move by putting up Go Woo-seok in the 8th inning, and secured the victory by earning a 2-inning save.
Lee Ji-kang, whom we met after the game, said, “I was thinking to myself, ‘It’s really hard to win for the first time.’ In the end, Wooseok, Min Jae-hyung, and the other hyungs did a good job blocking it. I still can’t believe it. First of all, I’m so proud. “There are many players who retire without winning, but I am so honored and happy that I came to the pros and got my first win,” he said, expressing his emotional feelings.
I remember Lee Ji-gang starting the game against Gwangju KIA on October 6 last year and pitching well, allowing 1 run in 5 innings. It brought back good memories of him.
He said, “I thought about that time and went up thinking, ‘I feel good today,’ and it led to good results. I thought about last year a lot. I think it was good that I went up with a positive mindset like, ‘I did well last year, so I can do well today too.'” I pointed it out.
LG’s players selected during the 2019 rookie draft are performing very well. LG fans nicknamed them the ‘Legendary 2019 Draftees (1st round Lee Jeong-yong, 2nd round Lee Sang-young, Jung Woo-young, Moon Bo-kyung, etc.).
Lee Ji-kang is also a player who joined LG in the second 9th round of 2019. However, his classmates were doing well, but among them, Izzy Kang was the one who did not bloom. However, he succeeded in resolving it on this day.
He said, “I came to the first team a little late. Last year was a bit of an experience, and this year I’m going to do it properly. I always wanted to quickly play baseball with my classmates and be included in the legendary 2019 draft. This year, we’ll be together like this.” “I got to do it, and Bo-kyung did well today. I’m really proud,” he said with a bright smile, “I’m so happy to be able to announce that I’m also a 2019 draftee.”
It has not yet been decided whether Lee Ji-gang will occupy the fifth starting position or return to long relief. Lee Ji-gang said, “I’m ready at any time. I have no complaints whether it’s in the bullpen, starting position, or any position. I’m not a player who has settled in yet. It’s right to throw my best at the position the team wants. If I can throw a lot in any situation, “I hope you can write it at any time,” he said, appealing to director Yeom Kyung-yeop.