It’s still an irreplaceable mound staple. But it’s hard to argue with the facts.

This is the case of Yang Hyun-jong (36) of the KIA Tigers. The franchise star has played for one team since joining KIA in 2008, except when he moved to the United States (2021). He is the youngest pitcher in the KBO to win 160 games, the most starts and wins, the second most wins in a single season, the second player in history to reach 100 innings in 10 consecutive seasons, the second player in history to strike out 1900 batters, the third player in history to strike out triple digits in nine consecutive seasons, the third player in history to strike out 2300 batters, and the ninth player in history to strike out 170 batters in nine consecutive seasons. The “great pitcher” label doesn’t just come with the territory.

This year, the record streak continues. 안전놀이터 With 101 more strikeouts, Yang will tie Song Jin-woo for the KBO’s all-time strikeout record (2,048). The records for most career starts (383) and most career wins (166) are rewritten every time he takes the mound.

As such, Yang has been a favorite to start every Opening Day. Not only is he a homegrown starter, but he’s also the team’s ace, so it’s only natural that he would be considered the starter responsible for winning the opening game. Yang was the Opening Day starter for three consecutive seasons from 2014 to 2016. He also started the 2019 and 2020 seasons, and again in 2022 when he returned to the United States.

However, he hasn’t had the best start to his career.

In the 2014 season opener against the Gwangju NC on April 1, he pitched eight innings of five-hit ball with nine strikeouts and no runs allowed. However, he failed to win back-to-back games in 2015 (March 28 against Gwangju LG Electronics, 6 innings, 6 hits, 4 walks, 2 strikeouts, no runs) and 2016 (April 1 against Changwon NC, 6 innings, 6 hits, 2 home runs, 4 walks, 7 strikeouts, 4 runs, no runs).

Yang Hyun-jong, who lost his opening day start to Hector Noesi in the 2017-2018 season, has been the opening day starter again in 2019. However, after pitching six innings of five-hit, one-run baseball with eight strikeouts and one walk against Gwangju LG on March 23, Yang took the loss, and he also suffered a loss in the 2020 season (May 5 against Gwangju Kiwoom), giving up four runs on four hits, two walks and one strikeout in three innings. In the 2022 season opener against Gwangju LG on April 2, he gave up four runs (unearned) on three hits, one walk, and six strikeouts in six innings. It was his third straight loss in the opening game. Last year, his pitching schedule was pushed back due to his participation in the World Baseball Classic (WBC) and rainouts, so he took the mound on April 11 against Hanwha in Gwangju after the opening series. He allowed three runs on seven hits (one home run) and one walk in seven innings with five strikeouts and three strikeouts, but the result was a no-decision.

Yang Hyun-jong has been pitching during camp.

Based on the rotation, he could start on Opening Day. However, there are still variables, such as the lack of good results in the opening game and the upcoming exhibition games. Along with Yang, foreign pitcher Will Crowe, who pitched in a practice game against Lotte on March 3, is also a possible opening day starter given his rest schedule.

The pressure is on for the opening game, as both teams will be aiming for a win with their aces. It is the ace’s destiny to overcome this, 메이저 토토사이트 but it is also necessary to reduce the pressure on Yang Hyun-jong, who has had to carry the load alone in recent years. It will be interesting to see what coach Lee Bum-ho decides to do for the rest of the season.