Won Tae-in (23) of the Samsung Lions showed off his best pitching performance in his first demonstration game.

Won Tae-in showed perfect pitching 메이저놀이터in 4 innings, 5 strikeouts and no runs in a match against Kiwoom Heroes in the ‘2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League’ held at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on the 23rd. Thanks to Won Tae-in’s good fight, Samsung won 6-5 and went on a 5-game winning streak.

Won Tae-in, who participated in the World Baseball Classic (WBC), took a break and started his first demonstration game that day. In an interview before the game, he worried, “Now I’m getting used to the KBO League official ball again,” but rather, he overpowered Kiwoom’s lineup with a perfect pitch.

In an interview after the game, Won Tae-in laughed and said, “It is true that I did not adapt 100%.” Luckily, it seems to have thrown well. It’s still too early to say I’m 100% used to it. The Korean ball is definitely better at sliders and curves, but the changeup feels different, so I don’t think the course or falling movement I want is perfect yet.” Then, he joked about perfect pitching that day, saying, “I should throw it like this during the season, but I’m rather worried because I threw it so fast and well.”

If there is a hitter who is the most difficult to deal with in Kiwoom, it is Lee Jung-hoo, who won the MVP last season. Won Tae-in met Lee Jung-hoo as the lead batter in the 5th inning. He expected a difficult match, but he threw a changeup in succession and induced the first baseman to ground the ball in two pitches. At Tae-in Won’s low-falling changeup, Jung-hoo Lee got down on his knees and hit the ball, and the ball hit the first baseman without power and became a ground ball. The bat was slightly broken, so a strong batted ball could not come out.

Regarding this scene, Won Tae-in said, “(Lee) Jung Hu-hyung, I played a part in breaking the bat. Later, if Jung Hoo-hyung does well in the major leagues, I wonder if he will be the subject of my story,” he laughed.

Won Tae-in, who said he had grown up a notch in the WBC, said, “I learned a lot while watching the ball throwing balance, and I also studied how to throw it so that it doesn’t hit. Even when I was pitching today, I thought that it was more important to throw accurately than to throw hard. (Kang) Minho hyung also told me that that was getting better, so it seems like it was a successful game in its own way