LG pitcher Kim Yu-young transferred from Lotte to LG as an off-season free agent Yoo Kang-nam (Lotte)’s compensation player. Kim Yoo-young, who had a career high season as a bullpen pitcher last year, competes as a starting candidate for LG. Coach Yeom Kyung-yeop saw the possibility of success as a starting pitcher and recruited him as a reward player.
Kim Yoo-young joined Lotte in 2014 with the first nomination. He appeared in 197 career games until last year, recording 7 wins, 3 losses, 1 save and 18 holds with an earned run average of 5.64.
In 68 games last year, he recorded 6 wins, 2 losses, and an average ERA of 5.65 with 13 holds, playing an active role as a left-handed winning team. It is a career high result since his debut. Now it’s a new start as an LG player.
On the 30th, before departing from Incheon International Airport for Scottsdale Spring Camp, Arizona, USA, Kim Yoo-young said, “This is the 10th year, and I think it is the same competition every year, and I am always nervous, and that is how I feel now.” 메이저놀이터
He also has to get acquainted with his teammates from camp and adjust to the new team. When asked, “I moved to LG and worked out together during the short but off-season, how was the atmosphere?” He looked forward to the camp, saying, “I haven’t worn a uniform yet and haven’t done a group warm-up or anything like this yet, so I don’t feel like it yet.”
He is close to Yun Ho-sol, the same transfer student. He said, “It is now a stage of getting acquainted with his colleagues. He and Yun Ho-sol, who are in the same situation, rely on each other a lot. ‘It’s okay, it’s a little awkward. I was like that too,” he said with a smile.
Compensation players can create success stories. Kim Yoo-young said, “(Specially) I don’t care. You play baseball the same wherever you go. I’m digging into myself,” she said blandly.
After moving to LG, I only think positively. When asked about the meaning of the change in his team, Kim Yoo-young said, “The (transfer) result came out, so I tried to think only of the positive parts rather than the bad thoughts.” , a strong team, I thought that way. I thought it was a good environment for a pitcher,” she said.
Director Yeom Gyeong-yeop even picked Kim Yu-young as a candidate for the 5th starting pitcher, paying attention to his pitching mechanism, high-quality changeup and curveball. Kim Yoo-young said, “(Because it was a starter), her off-season preparations were not very different. He said, “It is to revitalize what he did for a year while taking care of it, but it was not very different.” Regarding the director’s mention of candidates for selection, he said, “I am confident. She showed determination, saying, “I want to show a responsible side of me.”
She prioritized her health over grades, whether in the starting or bullpen. He said, “Because baseball is all numbers, I think that the moment a player enters into numbers, he collapses. If the desired number does not come out, I will feel bad and my condition will deteriorate. He tries not to think about numbers. I try to do my best in what I can so that it doesn’t hurt. (Rather than grades), I aim to throw the ball healthily without getting hurt.”
Unlike Lotte, LG is a team that has been steadily playing fall baseball lately. This year, winning the Korean Series is the immediate goal. Kim Yoo-young said, “I experienced fall baseball for a short time in 2017, and I naturally have expectations for (fall baseball) after coming to LG. She ran a lot about fall baseball in her head. She recalled playing fall baseball for third place in 2017 and had an off-season with excitement,” she said.