“I don’t think I’m smiling, I’m just saying it.”
Samsung Lions veteran left-hander Paik Jung-hyun, 36, started against the Kiwoom Heroes of the 2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on March 30 and pitched 5.2 innings of seven-hit ball with one walk and two strikeouts to help his team secure its fifth win of the season with a 10-6 victory.
Baek was removed from the first team after suffering a sore left elbow on March 23 against the Incheon SSG Landers. He rehabbed with the Future Team and made his return to the first team 37 days later. Although his top velocity was only 140 kilometers, he finished the first game of the second half of the season with a successful outing with a wild pitch.
When asked after the game, Baek Jung-hyun said, “The batsmen scored a lot of runs from the start. I didn’t think about anything else and threw a lot of strikes to finish the game quickly,” said Baek. “If it weren’t for their hitting, I would have had a hard time. Thankfully, we got through the first innings without giving up any runs.”
When asked about his elbow, he said, “Fortunately, it’s not too bad. At the time, it felt like I was trying to push myself and strained it. When I examined it, it was just inflammation and a little bit of damage. “I’ve had an injury in the same area before that ended my season early, so I was cautious, but it was a small injury, so I was able to come back quickly.
Baek was unable to record an out in the sixth inning and missed the chance to earn his sixth QS of the season.
Baek said, “I had no regrets. It could have been a tough situation, but thanks to Hoseobi, I was able to overcome it. I think I gave up the runs in front of me, and I’m grateful to the pitchers who came up behind me,” she smiled.
Unlike the first half, Samsung definitely found its stride in the second half. They have five wins, one tie, and three losses in the second half. Their winning percentage in July was 0.529 (9 wins, 8 losses, 1 tie), which was fourth in the league.
Baek Jung-hyun said, “I feel a lot of responsibility because the team is at the bottom of the table. Even when I was injured, I felt like I had to be ready to step up and help the team. We were able to win with a lot of help from the beasts. I will continue to prepare well.”
He added, “The team is definitely more energized than it was in the beginning. I think it’s because most of the injured players have returned, so I’ll continue to build on that atmosphere.”
Last season, the first season of his four-year, $3.8 billion free agent contract, Baek was disappointing with a 4-13 record and 5.27 ERA in 24 games. This season, he has been solid, going 5-5 with a 3.89 ERA in 14 games, though there have been times when he has been out of the rotation due to injury.
“I prepared for the season a little early,” Baek said. It wasn’t a situation where I could rest. I had some residual injuries, so I was doing rehab and trying to recover. I think I found my groove as I continued to train.”메이저사이트
Baek always keeps a poker face. Even when he concedes a goal, even when his teammates make fun of him, his expression remains the same. “I don’t think I smile,” he says with a faint smile, “I think I just say, ‘Good job, thank you,'” he says. There’s a sincerity in that smile that’s hard to explain.