"Since this is a spring training game and not the regular season, I focused on throwing a lot of strikes and mixing my pitches to get a feel on the mound.”
Drew Anderson, a foreign pitcher for the Korea Professional Baseball SSG Landers, successfully completed his first appearance in a spring training game.
Anderson, who wore the SSG uniform as a replacement for Robert Dugger last April, recorded 11 wins, 3 losses, an earned run average of 3.89, and 158 strikeouts over 24 games, successfully re-signed.
In a spring training opening game held at Daegu Samsung Lions Park on the 8th, Anderson, who started against the Samsung Lions, pitched well with 4 innings, 2 hits allowed, 3 strikeouts, and 1 earned run.
He conceded the first run in the 1st inning but did not allow a single walk and completed three out innings in the 2nd and 4th innings. His maximum speed reached 151 km/h, and he efficiently utilized his key pitches, including curveballs, sliders, cut fastballs, and changeups.
After the game, Anderson said, "Since this is a spring training game and not the regular season, I focused on throwing a lot of strikes and mixing my pitches to get a feel on the mound."
He also shared his thoughts on the newly implemented pitch clock and the changed Automatic Ball Strike System (ABS) for this season. Anderson noted, "Since I have already experienced the pitch clock in the U.S., I didn’t have much difficulty. Rather, I think it’s good because it can reduce game times."
Anderson additionally mentioned, "I feel that the ABS zone seems a bit smaller, but I will focus on pitching aggressively while throwing more within the zone."
Another foreign pitcher, Mitch White, returned early due to a right hamstring injury during the second camp in Okinawa, Japan. Coach Lee Sung-yong said about White’s current condition, "He is at the stage of sitting and throwing the ball. He is continuing training focused on his upper body and has a strong will to return as soon as possible."
With White sidelined due to injury, Anderson felt more pressure. He promised, "As a teammate, I regret White’s injury, but I will do my best to show great performance with that sense of responsibility."
In response to a question about his determination for this season, Anderson answered, "I am happy to return to SSG and be able to perform again, and I will strive to show good results during the season."
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