"It seems he will show his old form."
KIA Tigers manager Lee Beom-ho predicted the recovery of right-handed sidearm pitcher Lim Ki-young (31). It is said that the skills he displayed as a key player in the 2023 season could return. He expressed confidence, stating he saw that potential in the practice game's actual appearance. Lim's recovery is also raising expectations that the seven-man bullpen will be operational.
Lim Ki-young made his first appearance in the practice game against the NC Dinos on the 10th. Following rookie Kim Tae-hyung, he pitched in the 3rd inning. His performance included 1 inning, 5 hits, 1 walk, 1 strikeout, and 4 earned runs. He threw 40 pitches, primarily fastballs, mixing in his signature changeup occasionally. His fastball reached a maximum speed of 140 km/h.
Although his results appeared poor on the surface, manager Lee Beom-ho paid attention to the content. "He gave up 4 runs on 5 hits, but he looked very good. His speed exceeded 140 km/h. He doesn’t seem to have any problems. There’s sensitivity to whether the ball hits the ABS side or not, but he’s throwing balls with movement," he praised.
The manager continued, "He seems to be shaken by unfortunate misses on the ABS, but his form is extremely good. Hits and earned runs are not important right now. The slightly lowered strike zone from this year should also be beneficial. I think he will sufficiently show his old form as the season progresses," offering a positive outlook. He noted that rather than focusing on hits and earned runs, it's important that the quality of his fastball has improved.
In fact, Lim Ki-young responded to the manager's evaluation in his second game. He also participated in his second match against Doosan on the 13th. Against Doosan's key hitters, he threw 7 pitches and easily struck out 3 batters. He also added 1 strikeout. Yang Eui-ji grounded out to second base with a curve, Cave was struck out looking (fastball), and Kang Seung-ho was retired on a ground ball to first base (changeup).
In the 2023 season, he appeared in 64 games, throwing 82 innings while achieving a record of 4 wins, 4 losses, 3 saves, and 16 holds, with an impressive earned run average of 2.96. However, in the 2024 season, he recorded only 6 wins, 2 losses, and 2 holds over 37 games, with an earned run average of 6.31. Early-season side injuries and struggles coincided with the introduction of ABS, which is disadvantageous for sidearm pitchers. He also experienced the disappointment of not making the Korean Series roster.
He secured free agent eligibility and re-signed for 1.5 billion won over three years. Instead of resting on his laurels, he began training at the U.S. Trade Athletic Training Center to make a comeback. He sought to change his pitching form by raising his release point instead of bending his body too much. The fact that he threw a 140 km/h fastball during the practice game is being read as a positive signal.
He has been assigned the task of managing multiple innings following the starting pitcher. If he can replicate his form and performance from the 2023 season, the KIA bullpen will become significantly stronger. Left-handed pitcher Choi Ji-min, who also struggled, is showing signs of recovery by throwing a fastball at 149 km/h. If Lim Ki-young also responds positively, the entire KIA bullpen could become a crucial unit, enabling them to operate an impenetrable bullpen.
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