After completing his military service, left-handed pitcher Choi Chae-heung (Samsung Lions) made a successful comeback game after a year and seven months.
Choi took the mound as the starting pitcher against the visiting LG Twins at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul on March 13. It was his first start since being discharged from the military the day before.
Choi threw 5⅓ innings, allowing just three hits and two walks while striking out two to hold the league’s top-ranked LG offense scoreless.메이저사이트
Choi showed off his crisis management skills in the second, third, and fifth innings.
After giving up a leadoff double to Austin Dean in the second inning, Choi retired Park Dong-won and Oh Ji-hwan and struck out Moon Bo-kyung on a wild pitch.
Two batters later, a throwing error by first baseman Oh Jae-il and his first walk of the day put runners on first and second, but Choi struck out Kim Hyun-soo to end the threat.
Choi Chae-heung was in trouble again in the fifth when he gave up a double to left-center to Moon Bo-kyung and a full-count walk to Park Hae-min a batter later.
However, he stayed calm and got Hong Chang-ki to fly out to left field and struck out pinch-hitter Kim Min-sung.
In the top of the fifth inning, while Choi was in a pitching duel with LG starter Adam Plutko, the Samsung bats struck first to give Choi the win.
Choi continued to pitch in the sixth inning, striking out Kim Hyun-soo on a line drive before turning the mound over to Kim Dae-woo in the bullpen.
Choi ‘thumbs up’
(SEOUL) – Choi Chae-heung gives a thumbs-up sign during the 2023 KBO Baseball Game between the Samsung Lions and the LG Twins at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul on Wednesday afternoon. Samsung starting pitcher Choi Chae-heung gives a thumbs up to the dugout after finishing a scoreless inning in the fifth inning. 2023.6.13 ksm7976@yna.co.kr
Choi Chae-heung, who last pitched in the second round of the playoffs against the Doosan Bears on Nov. 10, 2021, made up for his 581-day absence.
His last game as a starting pitcher was on October 15, 2021, against the Kiwoom Heroes.
Choi went 7-0 with a 1.79 ERA for the Futures League Commerce last year, and is 1-1 with a 5.40 ERA in five games this year.
Since joining the organization in 2018, Choi has compiled a first-team record of 26 wins, 22 losses, and a 4.18 ERA in 88 games. In the 2020 season, he won 11 games (6 losses).