"I will throw often."
Kia Tigers right-hander Kim Do-hyun has taken a step closer to becoming the 5th starter. On the 15th, he made his start in a spring game against the Samsung Lions at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field, pitching 4⅓ innings with 2 hits allowed, 4 strikeouts, and 1 earned run (unearned). He showcased the abilities of a starting pitcher, leading the team to a 5-1 victory.
The highlight of his pitching was a crisis in the 4th inning. With a 2-0 lead, the first batter, Gu Ja-wook, grounded into the second base, resulting in a fielding error. The next batter, Kang Min-ho, hit a bullet-like single to center field. In a no-out, first and second base crisis, he faced Diaz, Park Byung-ho, and Jeon Byung-woo. All were struck out with curveballs, yielding 2 strikeouts and an infield pop-up, escaping the crisis.
There were two types of curves. He threw a drop curve that fell in front of the catcher, and also employed a high-velocity horizontal curve that curved towards the body of a right-handed hitter and landed on the borderline. In particular, even though it fell in front of the catcher, it sometimes received a strike call. This indicates that the angle of the drop was significant. Hitters were entirely unable to time the horizontal curve.
Manager Lee Beom-ho also noted, "His control of pace on the mound stood out, and it seems his breaking ball control was good." Kim Do-hyun remarked, "I effectively utilized my curve today. That was good. I was surprised when the dropping curve was called a strike. I'm glad I had that kind of luck. I think I need to continue pitching well in the future" while laughing.
He further expressed confidence in his curve, saying, "I thought a lot about using the curve as my secondary pitch. I have been practicing it continuously during the camp. I throw two types: one that catches the strike count and the other to entice batters by throwing hard with a ball count of 0-2. Nail throws a sweeper; I tried to learn by watching that. The coach also tells me that my curve is good while catching balls during catch practice. I'm listening to the advice and working hard."
He is competing for the 5th starter position with Hwang Dong-ha. "I'm having a friendly competition with Dong-ha, and it's flowing in a good direction. Dong-ha is also a very good pitcher. I think we help each other a lot. We don’t talk about becoming the 5th starter; we only discuss the positives about each other," he noted, highlighting their mutually beneficial relationship.
He added, "There were many things I felt while pitching last year. I thought it was a time to grow a level. This year is a different start than last year. Last year, I started from the middle, and this year, I am preparing to start as a starter. If I make it to the starting rotation, my goal is to pitch over 100 innings," he said. He further remarked, "I think I will have to see the situation when Lee Eui-ri returns," while laughing.
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