I was really nervous and shaking, but it was a moment I've dreamed of, so I wanted to get up there quickly. I think the excitement was bigger.

Samsung Lions' 'super rookie' Bae Chan-seung showcased a perfect pitching performance in his first appearance on the 1st team stage. After graduating from Daegu High School, Bae Chan-seung, who has been wearing the Samsung uniform this season, locked down three batters during a home game against the Kiwoom Heroes at Daegu Samsung Lions Park on the 23rd. He became a topic of conversation as he reached a top speed of 155 km/h.

Leading 6-3, Bae Chan-seung took the mound in the 6th inning. He induced the first batter, Park Joo-hong, to a foul fly caught by the first baseman. Soon after, he overpowered Yasiel Puig, a major league player with 132 career home runs, with a groundout to second base. After two outs, he handled Lee Joo-hyung with a catcher's strikeout to close the inning. Samsung defeated Kiwoom 11-7, sweeping the opening two-game series.

Manager Park Jin-man noted, “We brought Bae Chan-seung in the 6th inning considering the lineup. His stuff was good, and I think he showed a more relaxed demeanor on the mound than the existing players, which makes me confident.” Catcher Kang Min-ho said, “He’s the real deal. There’s no need for further explanation. He will do even better in the future.” The following is a Q&A session with Bae Chan-seung.

-You decorated your first appearance on the 1st team with a three-up, three-down. I'm curious about your feelings. 

▲I was really nervous and shaking, but it was a moment I've dreamed of, so I wanted to get up there quickly. I think the excitement was bigger.

-You recorded your top speed against Puig. 

▲I threw hard inside the zone, but I didn't expect it to come out that well.

-The camera captured you smiling on the mound. 

▲I may not have looked nervous, but I was really shaking.

-Every time you threw a pitch, cheers erupted from the fans. 

▲It was a little bit audible. It's the first time I've received such great attention while playing baseball. It feels good.

-What reaction did your seniors show after your appearance? 

▲They praised me, saying the ball was really good.

-Your strike rate on the first pitch was high. Is that your usual aggressive pitching style? 

▲Getting the first pitch strike is advantageous for a pitcher, so I tried to focus on that and get more strikes.

-Many have compared you to Oh Seung-hwan, referred to as 'the ultimate closer.' Have you had a chance to talk with senior Oh Seung-hwan? 

▲I haven't talked to my seniors much, but being compared to such a great senior is an incredible honor. It made me feel a sense of responsibility to pitch.

-Having successfully completed your first appearance, it seems you will feel less pressure in your next appearance. 

▲I believe I will feel more relaxed starting from the second appearance.

-Your brother Bae Da-seung (3rd year, Daegu High) hit a grand slam in the previous day's game against Jeju High in high school baseball weekend league. 

▲I was really proud that my brother hit a grand slam yesterday. I think my brother's good energy has come to me.

-Manager Park Jin-man expressed that he didn't use Bae Chan-seung before the game on the 23rd because he was 'saving him.' 

▲I'm really grateful for the kind words. I'm also thankful for the opportunity given to me. I want to meet expectations with an even better appearance in the future.

-You are expected to be a future closer. 

▲I still think I have a lot to improve on and need to do better. I believe if I work hard, I can do it. I continuously imagine being a closer. I think being a closer would be really appealing.

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