Yang Hyun-jong (36, Kia) was substituted after 4.2 innings against Samsung in Gwangju on the 17th. At the top of the fifth inning, when the team was leading 9-5, pitching coach Chung Jae-hoon came to the mound with two outs and runners on the first and second bases, and Yang Hyun-jong was replaced. Yang Hyun-jong’s pride collapsed when he said, “No way” when he saw his expression when he came up to replace him, but “Let’s stop here.”
It is quite unusual for a team ace to replace a starting pitcher with one out count remaining in the requirement for a winning pitcher when he is leading by four points. It was the first time for Yang since he became the ace pitcher.
Kia, which is facing the risk of taking the mound, will now play with a strategy to catch games in which two foreign pitchers and Yang Hyun-jong took the mound. The early replacement of Yang became a symbolic scene where Lee Bum-ho showed his aspiration and determination to win.
Lee Bum-ho approached Yang Hyeon-jong, who was wiping his sweat expressionless in the dugout, embraced him, and soothed him, showing a lot of imagination in the league. Yang confessed, “I was doing it one by one. I was in a state of excitement at that moment.”
Yang told a reporter ahead of the match against Samsung in Gwangju on Wednesday, “I reflected on it. I learned a lot from yesterday’s work. I played 400 games as a starter, and I have this much to learn even though I am 37 years old.”
At the match against Samsung on Saturday, Yang allowed seven hits, three walks, four strikeouts and five runs in 4.2 innings. It drew much attention as it was the first early replacement of the season and a scene that did not match the “Ace” business card. Manager Lee Bum-ho’s reason for the replacement was reasonable, but it is also clear that the situation is quite embarrassing for the pitcher. Yang’s psychological shock was huge because he had to take the batter’s box.
Yang Hyun-jong said, “I think it was the first time I came down to such a situation when I was a starter, except when I was young. Of course, I was disappointed about the requirements for a winning pitcher, but when I was at the batter’s box, which gave up a hit in the previous at-bat, I felt very proud to be replaced even though I was a left-handed hitter. The first thing I thought was whether he believed me or not, and I think that was doubly shocking. After that, my pride was so hurt. And I was angry.”
Yang was substituted after giving a timely hit to No. 4 Kang Min-ho at the top of the fifth inning when his team was leading 9-3, giving up another run and walking No. 5 Lee Sung-kyu. It was Kim’s sixth at-bat. Kim struck out at his first at-bat in the second inning, but when KIA was leading 3-0, he hit a double to right field line at the second at-bat with two outs and runners on the first and second bases in the fourth inning. Then, when Kia faced a crisis in front of its third at-bat, it replaced Yang.
“I have several memories of handing over the game to Kim Young-woong and Kim Heon-gon during the match against Samsung.” Manager Lee Bum-ho said on Wednesday, “I thought I would have to make a decision if those hitters come to the batter’s box before yesterday’s game, but out of all cases, it was Kim Young-woong after Yang Hyun-jong’s walk. That’s why I made the decision. Yesterday, I just thought about the game and decided.” On the contrary, from the perspective of a veteran pitcher, it is enough to make people think, ‘You don’t trust me in this situation.’
Yang always watches the game from the dugout until the end. However, he headed straight to the weightlifting ground with his face crumbled after leaving the mound. This is because no one enters the stadium when the game begins.
Yang Hyun-jong said, “I thought it would be too much of a nuisance to show this feeling to the players, so I went to a place where no one was there and watched baseball on TV. To be honest, I was angry and hated the coach at first. But as I kept thinking about it, I thought, “What am I doing when the team is winning now, I’m a veteran?” I’ve been playing baseball thinking that team victory is the first thing, but I always told my juniors that team victory is the most important thing, and I was so embarrassed what they are doing now,” and added, “In fact, at first, I thought, ‘Even if it’s right, it’s 9-7. But when I think about it one more time, if we go from 9-2 to 9-7, our game can go over, and I thought, “It’s not even a scoreless game, but I gave 5 points with my own hands.” I thought, “Today’s game shouldn’t be overturned, so I thought, ‘Wow, I’m glad’ when I saw you score an extra point in the 7th inning, and I came out of the weight court.”
After thinking to himself for an hour, Yang went to the locker room in the eighth inning. And as if nothing had happened, he went to the dugout in the ninth inning to end the game together. And after the game, Yang headed to the manager’s office. I talked with Lee Bum-ho.
Yang Hyun-jong said, “The coach said sorry. I kept saying, ‘I’m sorry for making this situation.’ So the coach said sorry again, and I said, ‘No. I’m sorry,’ and we just kept saying sorry and sorry to each other.”
Kia plans to display a winning streak going forward. When it has a chance to win, it must capture a chance to increase wins, increase win percentage, and play baseball to maintain its No. 1 ranking. Anyone including Yang may experience the past 17 days when he or she was embarrassed because he or she has never experienced it before.
Yang said, “I was very embarrassed because it was my first time experiencing this situation. I shouldn’t make such a situation again, but even if it happens again, I don’t think it’ll matter if the team wins then. I will never do this again like this. I really learned a lot yesterday.”
BY: 토토사이트