NC Dinos Lee Yong-chan (34) encouraged the growth of young pitchers.
Lee Yong-chan is preparing for the upcoming World Baseball Classic (WBC) and the 2023 season by sweating at the spring camp held at Reed Park Baseball Field in Tucson, Arizona, on the 5th (Korean time). Since the first day of spring camp, he has already pitched three times in the bullpen and is picking up the pace quickly.
Lee Yong-chan laughed, saying, “It’s hard to come to the United States after a long time.” “I made a good body in Korea. He was prepared to enter technical training right here in the United States. After the season, he took some rest and did recovery training. Then he went back into weight training and started throwing the ball earlier than usual,” he explained of his off-season preparations.
The reason Lee Yong-chan is quickly picking up the pace is because of the WBC, which will be held in March. Last season, Lee Yong-chan, who played a big role in 59 games (60⅔ innings), recording 3 wins, 3 losses, 22 saves and an average ERA of 2.08, was selected as the WBC national team along with Chang-mo Koo and Kun-woo Park from NC.
Lee Yong-chan, who said, “There is no reason to start throwing the ball so quickly unless it is the WBC,” said Lee Yong-chan, “I prepared quickly for the tournament. It is important for him to be selected for the national team and he wants to do well. As a result, he seems to have prepared quickly. Of course, I have a big desire to get good grades.”
Lee Yong-chan played well last season enough to be selected as a national team member, but “I am satisfied with my individual performance. However, since the team’s performance is not good, he feels sorry for the team as a senior. It would have been nice if both were good, but it’s a pity. It’s a team that won the championship in 2020, but after I came, I couldn’t go to fall baseball for two consecutive years. I came to this team, the members were good, and I was in the championship, but it’s a pity that I couldn’t play fall baseball. I have to become a dark horse this year.”
In NC, Yang Eui-ji, the best hitter and main catcher in the team, moved to Doosan. A big blow to the team’s power this season is inevitable. However, Lee Yong-chan was confident that NC would be able to play fall baseball sufficiently if young pitchers develop.
Lee Yong-chan said, “If our young pitchers do well, it will be fine.” If the two starting pitchers keep the rotation well and eat well innings 메이저사이트, I think we will advance to the top 5. Only starting pitchers need to do well. Last year, our 4th and 5th selections were not good. If only the 4th and 5th starters and foreign pitchers are good, I think we can enter the top 3,” he said.
Director Kang In-kwon also emphasized the role of the 4th and 5th starters. Manager Kang In-kwon said, “We are trying to have a lot of starting pitcher resources in preparation for the Asian Games.” Both pitchers failed to post the number of wins they had hoped for last year. The two won only 9 wins in total. If the two pitchers added 3 wins, they could play fall baseball. I hope to do better this year because I have gained experience.”
Manager Kang In-kwon, who was very disappointed with the low-ranking starting pitchers, confessed that he had seriously considered converting Lee Yong-chan to a starting pitcher last season. However, at the time, he was concerned about the collapse of the stable bullpen, so he eventually led Lee Yong-chan to the finisher. Lee Yong-chan is expected to serve as the closer this year as well.
Manager Kang In-kwon felt sorry for giving veteran Lee Yong-chan the stressful finishing pitcher position. However, Lee Yong-chan said, “Then who do you give it to? You can’t put this burden on young pitchers. it’s better for me to Anyone can make a blown save and be a losing pitcher. What follows is important. I forgot it quickly and had to refresh it. Young pitchers tend to continue to worry if they can’t do it.” “I tend to forget while exercising. I only do the copy once and don’t watch it again. And the next day I do a lot of weight training. Then, adrenaline comes out, the mood improves and the bad thoughts disappear,” he added, adding his own know-how to overcome stress.
Lee Yong-chan, who has had a lot of experience as a starter and closer, said, “I know the trick to some extent because I have more experience than other players. Both the starting pitcher and the closing pitcher are very attached to each other, and there is no such thing. Each has its pros and cons. I know because I’ve been back and forth between the two positions a lot. When the starting pitcher is having a hard time, I think of the closer, and when the finishing pitcher is sluggish, I think of the starting pitcher,” he laughed.
Lee Yong-chan, who said about his goals for this season, “I honestly don’t have any personal goals,” said, “Even the save title is not something I want to do. I just want to reduce my blown save by one more than last year. And it’s been quite a while since I played fall baseball. I want to taste the fall baseball and win the championship,” he said, strengthening his determination to play fall baseball.