Professional baseball LG Twins pitcher Jang Hyun-sik completed his rehabilitation and made his debut in the Futures League. His pitching was disappointing. However, Jang took significance in finishing his power pitching without any issues with his ankle.

On the 20th, Jang Hyun-sik pitched in a second-team game against SSG Landers in the 2025 Futures League held at the 강화 SSG Futures Field. Jang made his debut wearing the LG uniform in the second-team game.

LG signed Jang Hyun-sik to a four-year contract worth 5.2 billion won last November. Jang, who suffered an ankle injury during spring training in Arizona in February, had his pitching delayed as second-team games and exhibition matches were canceled due to rain and snow, and he finally took the mound that day.

Jang Hyun-sik pitched as the second pitcher after starter Lim Chan-kyu in the seventh inning, leading 8-0. The scheduled 85 pitches from Lim exceeded to 73 pitches thrown until the sixth inning due to his striking pitching, which delayed Jang's appearance.

Jang Hyun-sik threw a fastball on the first pitch to lead-off hitter Ahn Sang-hyun, which was clocked at 140 km/h on the scoreboard. The second pitch was also a 140 km/h fastball but missed the mark. Ahn swung his bat forcefully, and the ball went over the center fielder's head, hitting the center field fence (120m) for a double.

With no outs and a runner on second, Jang faced Kim Chan-hyung, throwing a fastball (141 km/h) that headed toward his face, resulting in an unstable pitch, causing the batter to nearly fall backward in surprise. Jang struck out Kim Chan-hyung with another fastball (139 km/h) that resulted in a popup to the right fielder for the first out. The runner on second tagged up to third base. In a one-out, runner on third situation, Jang got Kim Gyu-min to pop up to the left fielder with a fastball (141 km/h). The left fielder ran forward to catch the ball, preventing the runner from advancing.

With two outs and a runner on third, Jang threw three consecutive sliders to Seok Jeong-woo. The slider that came in high at 127 km/h resulted in a two-run home run over the left-field wall. After the run, Jang ended the inning by getting Lee Seung-min out with a line drive to the right fielder.

Jang recorded 2 hits allowed, 1 home run allowed, and 2 earned runs in one inning. The scoreboard showed a top speed of 141 km/h, and LG's analytics team reported that Jang's maximum fastball speed was 142 km/h. Out of the 18 pitches thrown, 9 were balls.

Jang Hyun-sik emphasized the significance of completing his first appearance without any bodily issues rather than the pitching results. After the game, he said, "Since it’s my first game, and with everything being canceled, it being a morning game and the weather being a bit cold, I take meaning in successfully finishing the game."

Regarding the fastball speed that peaked at 142 km/h, he noted, "If the tension is good, it will rise quickly. If I continue throwing, it should come up quickly. I expect continuous improvement."

Joining the opening roster appears difficult. Jang said, "It’s not my decision to make," adding that, "If I go to the first team, it will be different, right? It is different from the second-team games," emphasizing that he needs to continuously improve his condition regardless of whether he is in the first or second team, based on the coaching staff's decision.

Manager Yeom Kyung-yeop mentioned the criteria for Jang Hyun-sik's return early on. He stated, "The fastball speed must reach at least 145 km/h. If it reaches around 143 km/h, it is appropriate to play a few more games before returning. If it exceeds 145 km/h, it should rise to 148 km/h or 150 km/h by the start of the season. Jang Hyun-sik needs to be assessed on speed. The speed indicates his physical condition." His inclusion in the opening roster has not materialized, and he is expected to pitch a few more games in the second team before joining the first team.

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