Eliezer Hernandez, a foreign pitcher for the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) league's LG Twins, said, "The expectations are higher than last year".

Eliezer Hernandez, a foreign pitcher for the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) league's LG Twins, completed his preparation for the season with a 0 earned run average in spring training. Hernandez joined the team in July last year as a replacement for Casey Kelly during the season and heightened expectations for his first full-time season.

On the 17th, Hernandez started against the NC Dinos in a spring training game held at Jamsil Stadium, pitching 5⅔ innings, allowing two hits, one walk, striking out seven, and not allowing a run. Despite the chilly weather, Hernandez threw his fastball at a maximum speed of 148 km/h. He showcased a variety of pitches, including fastballs, sliders, changeups, and curves. Although he was psychologically affected by a headshot, he effectively pitched until two outs in the sixth inning, throwing 78 pitches.

In the third inning with two outs and one on, Hernandez threw a 138 km/h cutter that hit Park Min-woo on the head. The fallen Park Min-woo could not get up for a while due to the shock. After causing the unexpected incident, Hernandez came up to the batter's box with an evident expression of apology and concern for Park Min-woo. Park Min-woo was immediately substituted, and Hernandez apologized by tipping his cap towards him. After the game resumed, Hernandez got Kim Joo-won to fly out to center field, escaping a crisis with two outs and runners on first and second.

In the fourth inning, he allowed the leadoff hitter, Son Ah-seop, to reach base due to a throwing error by the shortstop, and after two outs, gave up a third baseman's infield hit to Kwon Hee-dong, putting runners on first and third. During Kim Hwi-jip's at-bat, the runner on first base, Kwon Hee-dong, attempted to steal second and got caught in a rundown, while the pinch runner on third base, Park Young-bin, dived home but was tagged out by the first baseman's throw. Ending the fifth inning with a three-up, three-down, Hernandez was replaced after recording two outs in the sixth. He had planned to throw about 80 pitches.

On the 10th, Hernandez recorded 3⅔ innings, allowing four hits, no walks, striking out three, and giving up one earned run (unearned) in a spring training game against the Lotte Giants. In two spring training games, he pitched 9⅓ innings, allowed six hits, struck out ten, walked none, issued one hit batter, and recorded one earned run (unearned), maintaining a 0 earned run average. He pitched effectively despite defensive errors.

Manager Yeom Kyung-yeop praised Hernandez's changed pitching design in his second year. Yeom noted, "Hernandez is expected to perform much better than last year," adding, "He throws what he calls a cutter at 138 km/h, a slider at 128 km/h, and a curve in the 120 km/h range. There is a speed difference between the three types of pitches."

He continued, "Last year, he threw cutters and sliders, but the cutter was around 142 km/h, and that has disappeared. Now he throws a 138 km/h cutter that is closer to a slider. He used to be a pitcher with a speed difference that would catch batters at one timing, but now he does not. It’s challenging for batters. From a data perspective, he presents much more difficult conditions for batters."

Last year, Hernandez appeared in 11 games, recording three wins, two losses, one hold, and one save with a 4.02 earned run average. He performed impressively in the postseason, pitching in all five games of the semifinals as a relief pitcher, recording two saves and one hold, and showcasing his power with 11 innings, 15 strikeouts, no runs allowed, and a 0 earned run average.

Manager Yeom also expressed satisfaction with Hernandez and fellow foreign pitcher Chiriños. He stated, "It seems like foreign players are starting under the best conditions during my three-year term. It's the most stable. In the first year, we played without a top starter, and last year, we played with almost no top starter. This year, we start with two pitchers close to being top starters."

In 2023, Plutko was sidelined late in the season due to injury and could not play in the Korean Series. Last year, the top starter Ence did not meet expectations, and Kelly was replaced midway through the season.

Chiriños, a new foreign pitcher who entered the KBO league for the first time this year, recorded one win, one loss, and a 5.63 earned run average in two spring training games. In his first appearance against KT on the 8th, he allowed three earned runs over 3⅓ innings with three hits. Even after getting two strikes, he allowed a home run due to poor pitch selection. On the 15th against SSG, he allowed two earned runs over 4⅔ innings with six hits. Manager Yeom stated that the pitching content was good, regardless of the runs allowed.

[OSEN]