'Veteran + Young Gun + Jumbo' → ERA 2.20 'No. 1'... SSG bullpen, who would have predicted [SS Focus]

May 12, 2023

[Sports Seoul | [Reporter Kim Dong-young] "No matter how I praise it, it's not enough."

SSG's trouble before the season was the bullpen. It was said that the bullpen was disappointing both inside and outside. Things are completely different when the season starts. There is Seo Jin-yong (31) in ‘Seonbong’. The overwhelming league save 1st place. The other side is also solid. Director Kim Won-hyung (51) is also happy.

Seo Jin-yong is recording 17.1 innings in 17 games this season, 1 win, 15 saves, and an average ERA of 0.00. He only has 1 point. 1 run in 1 inning against NC on April 14th. But it's a visa book. He gave no points through his own fault.

Running for #1 save. Other teams have a lot of trouble behind the scenes. Not SSG. 2nd place Kim Won-joong (Lotte) has 8 saves. Seo Jin-yong is almost doubling. No blown either.

Sometimes it shakes. The KIA game on the 11th was like that. He pitched in the bottom of the ninth inning with a 5-3 lead, gave up two walks and one hit, and was also driven to the bases loaded. However, he struck out Socrates Brito to end the game.

The image of 'block it anyway' is clearly planted. It is a part that can give other pitchers and fielders a tremendous sense of stability. That's why it's good to have a strong finishing pitcher.

Director Kim Won-hyung said, “What kind of reviews should I add? No matter how you praise it, it's not enough. It is true that he worried about the finishing position before the season, but (Seo) Jin Yong-yi is doing very well, he emphasized.

Seo Jin-yong is not the only one who is good at it. Noh Kyung-eun is making 17 games, 16.2 innings, 2 wins, 1 loss, 8 holds, 2 saves, and an ERA of 2.70. Koh Hyo-jun also pitched 13.1 innings in 15 games, 2 wins, 1 loss and 3 holds, with an ERA of 3.38. The veteran duo is showing off their strength.

If the big brothers are doing well, the younger ones are doing well too. First of all, Baek Seung-gun, born in 2000, is recording an average ERA of 3.94 with 2 wins, 1 loss and 3 holds in 14 games and 16 innings. He is addressing the team's lack of lefties. There was a slowdown from late April to early May. He gave up runs in three consecutive games. In the match against Kiwoom on the 7th, he changed the atmosphere by blocking it well with 2 scoreless innings.

Manager Kim Won-hyung joked, “(Baek) Seung-gun said, ‘If I couldn’t throw, I was going to send him to the 2nd team. There was a look that didn't fit too well. He only threw a change ball. He threw vigorously at the beginning of the season, but went more defensive as time went on. Kiwoom has changed. I lived thanks to him,” he laughed.

Choi Min-joon, born in 1999, is recording 17.1 innings in 16 games, 3 wins, 1 loss and 3 holds, and an ERA of 2.08. Although they are not in the first team right now, Shin Heon-min, born in 2002, and Lee Un-do, born in 2004, pitched in 5 and 8 games, respectively, with ERAs of 3.38 and 2.00.

there is another Park Min-ho, who has returned, is recording an average ERA of 0.93 in 9 games and 9.2 innings. Recruiting Lim Jun-seop, who was released from Hanwha, was also successful. 9 games, 8.1 innings, 1 hold, average ERA of 2.16. Director Kim Won-hyung said, “Im Jun-seop is throwing very well these days. Thanks to him, he is a great help to the bullpen,” he said, leaving a favorable review. It is the so-called 'pick up' success.

Thanks to the strength of these players, SSG's bullpen ERA is a whopping 2.20. Second place NC is 3.51. There is a clear difference. No one would have predicted this number before the season.

Of course, there is no guarantee that this momentum will continue until the end of the season. For example, Seo Jin-yong had a strong 2.28 ERA until May last year. After that, the pace started to drop. Koh Hyo-jun also marked 2.84 by May.

However, there are quite a few evaluations saying 'this year could be different'. That's why the current bullpen shows a lot. It is the driving force that SSG can run in first place even though the starting average ERA is 6th in the league with 4.00. so it's even more amazing raining99@sportsseoul.com