Doosan camp’s first practice game 9-1 win over SoftBank’s 2nd team
February 24, 2024. The Doosan Bears’ first day of spring training in the 2024 KBO League has been a hotly anticipated one, with “Super Rookie” Kim Taek-yeon’s “KKK” performance in his official game debut overshadowing a sweep in the first exhibition game of the camp.
On Feb. 24, Kim pitched a perfect game against SoftBank’s second team at Ikime Stadium in Miyazaki, Japan, in the bottom of the ninth inning, striking out three and walking none.
Kim, who had already received internal praise for his bullpen work at the Sydney spring training camp in Australia, where he was described as “different from other high school rookie pitchers,” made his presence felt from the first pitch.
Catcher Kim Ki-yeon, who often worked with Kim, said, “I realized that he was different after only a few at-bats. The feeling of a fastball coming at you is definitely not normal. It’s inevitable that there will be a lot of false swings.”
Yang, a catcher who watched Kim pitch from the sidelines, also said, “I felt like he was stable even though I only watched him pitch. He doesn’t look like a player who just graduated from high school. He’s still young, and I’m really curious to see what kind of player he will become in the future.”
Kim, who received plenty of praise from his catcher seniors, showed off his dominant fastball against the SoftBank B team batters. “I didn’t try to be too good, but I did what I’ve been doing and it worked out well,” Kim told MK Sports after the game. I pitched mainly fastballs with the feeling that I should just hit them because I knew I wouldn’t be able to get away with it. I was a little nervous because it was the ninth inning, and the bullpen pitches were a little floaty. But I got on the mound and got the zero right away,” Kim reflected on his debut.
Kim’s fastball reached 149 km/h on the day. According to Doosan officials, the speed gun may have been 1-2 km/h slower. His curveball movement for strikes was also very sharp.
“I feel good that my fastball velocity is getting better and better, and I think it can go up even more once the weather warms up and we get into the season. (Kim) Ki-yeon told me that he thought my fastball should come in high, but it’s more attractive when it comes in low,” Kim smiled.
After the game, Doosan manager Lee Seung-yeop said, “It was the first practice game of the spring training, and everyone performed well, pitchers and fielders alike. I am more satisfied with the process and content than the result, as it proved that our players have been preparing fiercely from last fall to the first Sydney camp. From Choi Won-joon, who started the 메이저사이트 game, to Kim Taek-yeon, who pitched the last inning, all of our pitchers performed evenly. Among the batters, I would like to praise Kim Min-hyuk and Kim Ki-yeon, who hit home runs with good swings, and we will prepare well for the remaining practice games.”
Lee said that he didn’t plan to entrust the rookie pitcher with the closing duties from the start. “I think Kim Taek-yeon is capable enough to take over the closing role, but I don’t think we can be too greedy with a high school rookie pitcher from the beginning. I don’t want to get ahead of myself and make a mistake. If he’s going to make the first team, he should start with low-pressure starts.”
Of course, the possibility of Kim taking over the closer’s role in 2024 cannot be completely ruled out. “If Kim Taek-yeon adapts well to the first team after the midseason and the situation requires a change of position, we can think about it (using him as the closer), but I don’t see it as a big possibility. I don’t want to get too excited about it, but I want to see how he overcomes the crisis through practice first.”