Foreign pitcher Yoni Chirinos of the professional baseball team LG Twins became the winning pitcher with a powerful performance during his KBO League debut.

Chirinos took the mound as a starting pitcher in the 2025 KBO League opening game against Lotte at Jamsil Stadium on the 22nd, achieving victory with a line of 6 innings pitched, 5 hits allowed, 3 walks, 8 strikeouts, and 2 earned runs. LG won 12-2.

Above all, Chirinos threw 103 pitches on that day. Among the 10 foreign pitchers who started in the opening game, he was the only one to exceed 100 pitches. KT's Heisus and NC's Logan both threw 94 pitches, ranking second.

Manager Yeom Kyung-yeop noted before the game regarding Chirinos' pitch count, "I would aim not to exceed 100 pitches, and would consider taking him out around 90 pitches. It would probably change in an inning that ends around 90 pitches unless he throws less than 85 pitches. I won't take him out with runners on base." Chirinos threw 82 pitches through the 5th inning. With fewer than 85 pitches, he took the mound again in the 6th and, after one out, allowed a walk but took responsibility by finishing the inning with 103 pitches total.

His main weapon, the two-seam fastball, reached a maximum of 151 km/h. On this day, all 8 strikeouts were recorded with the big-drop forkball (140 km/h to 133 km/h) through swings and misses. He controlled the count with the fast two-seam and showcased the effectiveness of the forkball as the decisive pitch. He threw 54 two-seam fastballs, 27 forkballs, 19 sliders, and 3 four-seam fastballs.

In the 1st inning, Chirinos threw a 149 km/h two-seam fastball against leadoff hitter Hwang Seong-bin, resulting in a strikeout on a swing and miss with a 137 km/h forkball. He handled Go Seung-min and Na Seung-yeop with groundouts to the second baseman, needing just 9 pitches to retire the side. In the 2nd inning, after one out, he allowed consecutive hits to Yoon Dong-hi and Jeon Jun-woo but struck out Son Ho-young on a 137 km/h forkball, escaping the jam by inducing a flyout to center field from Yoo Gang-nam. He recorded 2 strikeouts with forkballs in the 3rd inning, retiring the side in order.

In the 4th inning, he faced a crisis by allowing 5 consecutive reach bases. After one out, he allowed a double to Reyes in left-center, followed by consecutive walks to Yoon Dong-hi and Jeon Jun-woo, putting him in a bases-loaded situation. The ground ball from Son Ho-young barely evaded the shortstop's diving catch, turning into a 2-run single to left field. After giving up a hit to Yoo Gang-nam, again creating a bases-loaded situation with one out, he escaped the trouble by striking out Park Seung-wook on a swing and miss and getting Hwang Seong-bin to pop out to the catcher.

In the 5th inning, he retired the side in order. In the 6th, after one out, he allowed a walk to Jeon Jun-woo but struck out Son Ho-young and Yoo Gang-nam back-to-back with his forkball as the decisive pitch.

After securing the last strikeout in the 6th inning, Chirinos, holding the ball, responded to an interview after the game, saying, "This is my first time starting as a pitcher in an opening game in my career. Feeling a sense of responsibility since it was the opening game, the pitches I prepared came out, and thanks to the fans' support, I achieved a good result."

The effectiveness of the forkball as a decisive pitch stood out, and I was curious about the game plan. Chirinos explained, "I discussed a lot with the strength analysis team and catcher Park Dong-won. During the camp, the movement of the splitter (forkball) I wanted didn't come out, but before the season began, I made some adjustments to the grip. The splitter grip became a bit more comfortable, and in a situation where I gained more confidence, I pitched the opening game comfortably and confidently. The splitter was pitched efficiently."

On this day, Jamsil Stadium was sold out with 23,750 fans. Chirinos said, "When I was on the mound, I couldn't pay much attention to the fans' support. However, when I came down from the mound and heard the voices of the crowd from the 7th inning in the dugout, it was really amazing. I have played for a long time in the U.S., but I had never seen fans cheering like this from the first inning to the last 9th inning, which was impressive."

Manager Yeom Kyung-yeop mentioned a target of 15 wins for Chirinos before the game. Chirinos said, "I agree with the manager's opinion. Although I have never recorded 15 wins in a season during my 13 years living in the U.S., I hope this season will be my first. While wins are important, I think it's crucial to give my best every time I step onto the field. Rather than thinking I must become a winning pitcher, I will focus on being helpful to the team while pitching."

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