"It was the pitch I liked the most."

Left-handed rookie Baek Chan-seung (19) of the Samsung Lions is emerging as a hope for the bullpen. It is raising expectations that he could establish himself as a key member of the winning group. This has brought a smile to the face of manager Park Jin-man, who has cited strengthening the bullpen as a top priority. He has been recognized for his ability to retire not only left-handed batters but also right-handers in one inning.

Baek Chan-seung delivered an outstanding pitching performance against the KIA Tigers on March 2nd at the Okinawa Akamagu Stadium. He took the mound in the top of the seventh, leading 5-4, and struck out Kim Ho-ryeong, Yoon Do-hyun, and Ko Jong-wook. Kim Ho-ryeong threw a fastball at 150 km/h, and Kim Do-hyun struck out swinging with a 152 km/h fastball. He then overwhelmed Ko Jong-wook with a 145 km/h slider.

As a promising player selected in the first round, he is in the midst of a scoreless streak during spring camp. Up until the previous day, he had pitched one inning in three games without allowing a run. In a game against Yomiuri, he reached speeds of up to 152 km/h, showing good form. Nevertheless, he remains humble, noting, "I need to increase my strike percentage," and did not show satisfaction. On that day, he showcased his power against the champions with a 152 km/h pitch.

Before the game, manager Park Jin-man noted, "Chan-seung can be part of the winning group. He has the ability to do so. I intend to observe him in the exhibition games when there is no pressure. We haven't had a left-handed pitcher who can apply pressure to the opposition in our bullpen. If Chan-seung can pitch comfortably in a real match and throw his own ball, he will definitely be a part of the winning group."

He also made it clear that he is not just for left-handed batters. "Once he goes in, he has to complete one inning. There is no distinction between left-handed and right-handed batters. His pitches are strong. He is showing sufficient competitiveness against both left and right-handed batters. The staff is giving very good evaluations, noting that he is better from the inside than what we observed from outside," he praised.

Aiming for a championship redemption, Samsung has built a strong starting lineup by acquiring Choi Won-tae and Yarial Hurlado. However, the bullpen remains a question mark, particularly due to a lack of strong left-handed pitchers to suppress opponents. This was the reason they lost the championship to KIA last year. Focused on bolstering the bullpen during spring camp, the hopes for the bullpen are rising as Baek Chan-seung is demonstrating a prowess that far exceeds expectations.

Baek Chan-seung expressed confidence, saying, "It was the pitch I liked the most. I thought about getting a Samjin, but it worked out well. I just trusted the catcher's sign and pitched. I feel proud to have maintained the win in a tight one-run situation. I felt tense going in because KIA was doing well. Once the tension eased, I pitched well. I will maintain my condition well moving forward. My velocity will increase further."

After finishing the spring camp, another test awaits. First, he must showcase his abilities in exhibition games against the KBO League's top batters. If he meets the expectations set for Baek Seung-chan, Samsung's overall strength could bring them closer to the championship redemption. Consequently, there is heightened interest in the 19-year-old rookie's progress.

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