Kiwoom Heroes ace Ahn Woo-jin (24) showed confidence in his physical condition after completing his first bullpen pitching.
Last season, Woojin Ahn, who played an active role in 30 games (196 innings) with an average ERA of 2.11 and 15 wins and 8 losses, won two crowns as a pitcher (ERA, strikeouts) and had the best season by achieving 2nd place in the most strikeouts in a single season in the KBO League (224 strikeouts). We are preparing for the new season at spring camp.
On the 10th (Korean time), Ahn Woo-jin threw his first bullpen pitching at the spring camp held at Salt River Field in Scottsdale, Arizona, USA. He threw a total of 25 pitches and checked every pitch he threw, including his fastball, slider, curveball and changeup.
Ahn Woo-jin, who expressed satisfaction with the bullpen pitching results, saying, “My pitch seems to have improved compared to last year,” said, “The coach said it was important to send the camp with a goal. When I pitched, I pitched with an emphasis on throwing with the idea of where and how to throw. This time, I threw it with the thought that it would be nice if the opposite pitch came out inside three, and I achieved my goal. Conversely, there were only two balls left. He is in good shape and satisfied,” he said after completing his first pitching in the bullpen.
An Woo-jin, who revealed his dream of shooting 160 km per hour last season, was recorded on June 23rd on the electronic display board in 바카라사이트the 8th inning of Samsung Electronics. However, according to Samsung’s Trackman (a pitch tracking system) that was delivered after the game, the pitch was measured at 159.3 km. An Woo-jin plans to challenge 160km this year as well.
Regarding the pace that raises the speed, Ahn Woo-jin said, “I am raising the pace, but there is no problem now. It is important to maintain the restraint after it has been raised. Right now, the feeling is so good. I didn’t measure my speed during bullpen pitching, but it seems to have reached 150km. The power struggle, of course, did not happen. Still, I feel good, so I think the restraint came out well,” he laughed.
Restraint is important, but what Ahn Woo-jin cares about most is control. Ahn Woo-jin, who said, “It’s fun to throw the ball these days,” said, “I’m throwing the ball while thinking about how to throw it to put it where I want to throw it. With that thought in mind, when I go where I want to go, there is that thrill.” “It’s not just throwing strikes. When I throw a curveball so that it lands behind the home plate thinking I am throwing it with 2 strikes, I feel satisfied when the ball lands exactly where I thought and hits the home plate,” he added.
Ahn Woo-jin, who said, “I haven’t been able to control my ball perfectly yet,” said, “I still think my ball control is getting better every year. I realized the importance of control when I saw Jake Brigham or Eric Yokishi rather regret throwing strikes that went into the middle during practice. I have been throwing the ball while thinking a lot since I played catch.”
An Woo-jin, who emphasized that “it is important to think and throw” in order to catch the ball, said, “For example, if you let your arm come out a little faster when you first throw the ball from the outside, and when you throw the ball from the front, if it goes into the course you want, you can do it.” You have to remember it well and throw it while thinking about it. I think that if you throw with the thought that the body is thrown like this and the outside like that, you can control the ball in the direction you want. (Jang) Jae-young also told me about this method. I am generously imparting my know-how to pitchers who want it. I hope we can all do well together and produce good results.”