“We were on a losing streak and I wanted to throw well.”
In her last game before the national team, she pitched a no-hitter to earn the hold and snap the team’s seven-game losing streak. It was a bittersweet transition to the national team.
Kia Tigers left-handed reliever Choi Ji-min saved his team from a losing streak with a stellar performance in the Hangzhou Asian Games warm-up. In the top of the eighth inning of a 2-1 home game against the KT Wiz at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field on April 22, Choi pitched one hitless inning to earn his 12th save of the season. In the top of the ninth, closer Jung Hae-young worked out of a bases-loaded jam to preserve the win, and KIA snapped a seven-game losing streak with a 2-1 victory.
Choi Ji-min was the opposing center fielder in the eighth inning. Despite being a left-handed pitcher, he faced right-handed big hitters who all had long balls. He faced Park Byung-ho on a full count. On a 2B2S pitch, he fired a 151-kilometer fastball that went too low for a full count. He followed up with a 149-kilometer fastball, which Park hit low and shortstop Kim Gyu-sung caught it and threw to first base for the out.
Throws three sliders in a row to Moon Sang-cheol, who swings at them all and misses for a three-pitch strikeout for the second out. In the 6th, he throws three straight fastballs to Jang Jang-woo for a 2B1S, then throws a fourth slider for a single to right. Got Kim Sang-soo in the 7th on a full count with a line drive to second base to complete the job.
Choi, a key member of the KIA bullpen this season with a 6-3 record, three saves, 12 holds and a 2.16 ERA in 57 appearances, leaves for Hangzhou for a short time.
After the game, Choi Ji-min said, “I was on a losing streak and wanted to throw well. It was my last game before the national team, so I tried to do it without regrets, and it paid off.” “I was facing center field hitters, so I was thinking a lot about corners to avoid hitting long balls. As a result, there were a lot of balls, but I felt like I blocked them well, so I felt good,” he said about his last pitch before joining the national team.
The 2023 KBO League game between the KIA Tigers and KT Wiz took place on April 22 at Gwangju KIA Champions Field. KIA players celebrate after winning the game to end a seven-game losing streak. Gwangju=Jae-Man Park 기자pjm@sportschosun.com/2023.09.22/
An evaluation game between the U-23 and U-18 national baseball teams was held at Daegu Citizens’ Baseball Stadium on Friday. Choi Ji-min of the U-18 national team. Daegu = Heo Sang-wook wook@sportschosun.com/2021.09.15/
The exclusion of senior Lee Yi-ri, who was scheduled to join the national team before the game, came as a shock to Choi Ji-min. “I was very surprised,” Choi said, “I was very disappointed. He knows a lot of other national team players and has a lot of national team experience, so he can help the national team a lot, but I’m very disappointed that he couldn’t go with us.”
This is his second time on the national team. But it’s her first time competing. Two years ago, she was selected for the youth team, but the World Youth Championships were canceled due to COVID-19. His teammates at the Asian Games are KT Park Young-hyun and Hanwha Moon Dong-joo.
They don’t know much about their opponents, Taiwan and Japan, yet. “I heard that Taiwan has a lot of minor league players and a lot of good players,”스포츠토토 Choi said, “so now we have to analyze their strength and prepare.”
The goal, of course, is gold. “We’ll just have to work together and do our best in whatever role we’re given,” Choi said, “and we’ll definitely come back with a gold medal around our necks.” She’ll be wearing the Taeguk mark heavily. “I’m excited,” she said, “but I also have a huge responsibility because I’m representing my country. I will do my best not to bring down the honor of Korea.”
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