I must forget last year. It was a year when the moniker 'glasses ace' felt somewhat embarrassing. Can Park Se-woong (30) of the Lotte Giants show a revitalized pitching performance that brings smiles to Manager Kim Tae-hyung and the entire organization?

Manager Kim Tae-hyung identified two key players who will shape this season. As a manager with a background in catching, he emphasizes the importance of catchers, highlighting that last year, they struggled due to issues behind the plate, thus naming Yoo Kyung-nam, who is returning from knee surgery, and Park Se-woong, who must play the role of the homegrown ace and the third starter.

Manager Kim Tae-hyung emphasized, "Park Se-woong must become the winning third starter who can face off against opposing third starters. The teams with strong third starters tend to perform well. Se-woong's role is crucial."

Since last year, Manager Kim Tae-hyung has consistently highlighted the importance of Park Se-woong's role in the starting lineup. He was regarded as the best homegrown starter, known as the homegrown ace, and glasses ace even before Manager Kim took charge. However, Park Se-woong finished last season with a record of 6 wins, 11 losses, and an earned run average of 4.78 over 30 games and 173⅓ innings.

He has pitched over the required innings for five consecutive years and has pitched over 150 innings for four consecutive years. Last year was his personal highest innings pitched in a season. No player has shown such stamina as a homegrown starter. However, there was something disappointing. On whether he showcased a performance that could overwhelm opponents, the consensus is that he did not. Manager Kim Tae-hyung shared this sentiment as well. In fact, last year, Park Se-woong recorded the worst earned run average in the past five years. He needs to grow a bit more. While acknowledging the value of a starting pitcher who continues to pitch without breaks, Manager Kim stated, "It is a significant help to the team. In addition to eating innings, he must do better next year (2025). Se-woong is still the ace, excluding foreign players. He really must improve. As a leader among pitchers, he should enhance his responsibility as a domestic ace," he reiterated. Manager Kim's key player has never strayed from Park Se-woong.

Reflecting on last year's games, even while he was supposed to be the homegrown ace, there were times he showed somewhat frustrating performances. When Kim Tae-hyung stormed out of the dugout to the mound, it was a reflection of his desire for Park Se-woong to pitch with the responsibility of an ace.

In this year's spring camp, Manager Kim Tae-hyung still views Park Se-woong as the homegrown ace, leading him into symbolic games. He has been designated as the starting pitcher for the first game against the Taiwanese national team in the World Baseball Classic (WBC) scheduled for February 12-13. He also started in the first exhibition game against Chiba Lotte Marines on the 28th of last month. After facing off against Roki Sasaki (Los Angeles Dodgers) in last year's exhibition game, he represented the Korean Lotte Giants again as their starting pitcher this year.

Aside from symbolism, the performance and results of the games also need to be accounted for. In the first inning, Park Se-woong struggled with control and condition. He allowed a leadoff solo home run to Nishikawa Mishou, starting the game on a shaky note. Following that, he gave up a single to Takabe Akito. After retiring Yamaguchi Koki on a fly out, he picked off the runner at first base, Takabe. After two outs, he walked Neftali Soto and allowed a single to Ueda Kyuuto, putting him in a jam with two outs and runners on first and second. However, he struck out Nakamura Shogo to barely finish the first inning.

However, starting from the second inning, he managed to retire Yasuda Hisanori on a ground ball to first, Matsukawa Go on a ground ball to the pitcher, and Tomosugi Atsuki on a ground ball to third, wrapping up the inning in order. In the third inning, he reversed Nishikawa, who had hit a leadoff home run before, getting him on a ground ball to short. He then struck out Takabe and Yamaguchi back-to-back to finish three innings. On that day, Park Se-woong pitched three innings, allowing three hits (one home run), issuing one walk, recording three strikeouts, and allowing one earned run. He threw 47 pitches, reaching a top speed of 148 km/h. He mixed 17 fastballs, 18 sliders, 7 curves, and 5 forkballs.

Park Se-woong is the type to quickly raise his pace before the season and then adjust his delivery. True to his method, he has already pitched at 148 km/h while preparing his physical condition this year. The results after the season must be different now. He needs to lead the team to more victories while giving up fewer runs and showcasing dominant pitching. He must now deliver results that make the titles of homegrown ace and glasses ace no longer embarrassing. If he can leap into the 'winning third starter' that Manager Kim desires, everyone can smile.

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