It seems there will no longer be complaints related to pitchers' speed.

The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) will introduce the TrackMan pitching tracking system from TrackMan as the official speed measurement equipment for the league starting in the 2025 season. Based on this, KBO plans to unify the pitching speeds displayed during KBO League broadcasts and on the electronic scoreboards of each stadium.

Until the transfer, the speed measurement methods varied by broadcast companies and stadiums, raising the necessity for unification.

Starting from the KBO exhibition games, which open on March 8 (Saturday), all broadcasts will display the pitching speeds based on the TrackMan standard. Stadiums that have not yet adopted the TrackMan standard are also preparing the system, planning to transition gradually. Last year, seven stadiums had electronic scoreboards that displayed speeds based on the TrackMan standard.

KBO expects that this unification of speed display standards will provide consistent game information to baseball fans.

The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) has been pushing for the establishment of an integrated data system. In 2023, TrackMan was selected as the system provider, but it was not finalized. Controversy was inevitable until the integrated data system was established. Depending on the broadcast company, team, stadium, and the location of the measurement equipment, speeds varied. The difference between speeds measured by the Pitch Tracking System (PTS) and those measured by TrackMan was significant. TrackMan's speeds are known to be more favorable.

The player who brought the speed-related controversy to public attention is Won Tae-in of the Samsung Lions. Won said, "I make strenuous efforts to raise my speed by 1 km, and when it falls short by about 3-4 km, it really frustrates me. I can't trust the speed guns from the broadcasters. There needs to be real improvement," adding, "The speeds from Daegu (Daegu Samsung Lions Park) and Suwon (Suwon KT Wiz Park) come out the lowest. It's not an excuse; when it falls short, there can be a difference of as much as 4-5 km. I have recorded an average speed of 147 km based on TrackMan for three consecutive years, yet some broadcasts show speeds only in the low 140 km range."

He noted, "I am throwing in the upper 140 km range, but the figures captured by the international tournament speed guns reflect my actual speed. Because the broadcasters' speeds are not properly represented, many pitchers, including myself, are suffering." He continued, "The average speed from TrackMan is the most accurate, and as a pitcher, it's really frustrating that my speed isn't properly represented. I make strenuous efforts to raise my speed by 1 km, and when it falls short by about 3-4 km, it really frustrates me."

It seems that the complaints from pitchers, including Won Tae-in, will now quiet down.

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