‘Changeup is 150km’ monster pitcher’s innings limit… “120 innings is right. Plus 10 innings”
Choi Won-ho, the new Hanwha coach, revealed clear guidelines for second-year inning management for Moon Dong-ju. “120 innings ± 10 innings,” he confirmed.
Moon Dong-ju,안전놀이터 who threw 28.2 innings last year due to two injuries (side and lats), is being managed this season as well. Former manager Subero said 120 innings, but coach Wonho Choi, who rose to the command tower, mentioned ‘140 to 150 innings’ last weekend, causing confusion.
When asked about Moon Dong-joo’s inning management while briefing reporters at Jamsil Stadium on the 19th, coach Choi said, “I asked (to the club) for sure, and they said they got 10 plus-minus 10 innings out of 120 innings. I think we can manage that much now.”
The number of innings thrown by Hanwha will be determined depending on whether or not the national team is selected for the Asian Games held in September.
Coach Choi said, “I don’t know how the Asian Games national team will be selected, but I’m thinking that if I go to the Asian Games, I’ll have to spare about 20 innings.”
Asian Games final entries are expected to be announced at the end of June. Coach Choi said, “Then, look at whether you were selected for the national team at that time or not, and if you are not selected, hit 120 to 130 innings here (Hanwha), and if you are selected, you must quit within 110 innings at Hanwha.”
Director Choi said, “As soon as I became (director), it became like I was overworking Moon Dong-ju. I said it exactly as you asked, but someone said it included the Asian Games, and someone said it didn’t include the Asian Games… When I asked what exactly happened, they said it was plus or minus 10 innings out of 120 innings.”
Moon Dong-ju started the game against LG in Jamsil on the 19th and showed a powerful pitch. On this day, Dong-ju Moon drew attention by throwing a changeup and slider with a maximum speed of 150 km along with a fastball of 160 km.
The casters and commentators who relayed the match were amazed at the changeup that was as fast as the speed of the fastball. Commentator Kim Tae-gyun said, “It’s not a changeup. Wow, it’s a changeup, but another player’s four-seam fastball is coming out.”
However, it was regrettable that the ball was shaken in the match. In the 3rd inning, with 2nd out, 2nd and 3rd base, Kim Hyun-soo walked, and Austin allowed 2 RBIs and 2nd base. With a hit and a walk in the 5th inning, he was replaced with two runners left, and the relief pitcher allowed one runner to score. In the end, Moon Dong-ju became the losing pitcher with 4 hits, 4 walks, 4 strikeouts and 3 runs in 4 innings.