Rookie of the Year right-handed pitcher So Hyung-jun (KT Wiz) expressed hope in his first start in 686 days.
So Hyung-jun started in the second game of the season against the Doosan Bears at Suwon KT Wiz Park on the 26th, pitching 6 innings with 9 hits allowed, no walks, 4 strikeouts, and 3 earned runs. Although the team lost 2-3 and he became the losing pitcher in his first appearance, this was his return to the starting lineup after 686 days since May 10, 2023, in a game against the NC Dinos in Suwon, and it marked his first quality start in 910 days since September 28, 2022, against the Doosan Bears in Suwon.
So Hyung-jun pitched efficiently with fewer than 80 pitches through the 6th inning. Of the total 79 pitches, 58 were strikes (21 balls), and he mixed his main weapon, the two-seam fastball (31 pitches), with cutters (30 pitches), change-ups, and curves. The maximum velocity of his two-seam fastball was recorded at 149 km/h.
Before the game against Doosan on the 27th, manager Lee Kang-chul said, "It was really good to see him pitch after such a long time. It would have been more comfortable if the batters had scored a little, but he did his job well despite that. He got shaken up due to an irregular bounce."
So Hyung-jun, who won the Rookie of the Year award as the first overall pick in 2020, underwent Tommy John surgery in May 2023, marking a renewed hope for the 2024 season. Initially, a return was expected in the latter half of last year, but after a minor injury to the right elbow flexor in June, he began a second rehabilitation process. Starting from August, he began the process of returning and rejoined the first team roster on September 10, following two appearances in the Futures League in early September.
In September, So Hyung-jun contributed to KT's miraculous postseason qualification by pitching in 6 games with a record of 2 wins and no losses, an earned run average of 3.24. He also appeared in the 5th place deciding match against the SSG Landers on October 1, where he pitched 1⅓ innings with 2 hits allowed, 1 strikeout, and no earned runs, helping secure the 5th place dramatically. Additionally, he performed well in 3 playoff games against the LG Twins with 1 hold and an earned run average of 2.25.
Due to the aftermath of the surgery, So Hyung-jun took on the bullpen role for the first time in his debut season and, as a Rookie of the Year winner, quickly became a key player trusted by the manager. With remarkable recovery, he recorded a maximum fastball speed of 150 km/h and an average speed of 148 km/h during the playoffs. He also went on to gain international tournament experience with the Premier 12 national team.
Meanwhile, KT set its starting lineup against Doosan's starting pitcher Kim Yoo-sung, featuring Kang Baek-ho (designated hitter), Mel Rojas Jr. (right fielder), Heo Kyung-min (third baseman), Kim Min-hyuk (left fielder), Jang Seong-woo (catcher), Cheon Seong-ho (second baseman), Moon Sang-cheol (first baseman), Bae Jeong-dae (center fielder), and Kim Sang-soo (shortstop). The starting pitcher is Oh Won-seok, making his debut with KT.
[OSEN]