At 19 years old, KT Wiz rookie starter So Hyeong-jun tossed a game of his career in his KBO postseason debut. The right-hander said that he didn’t feel any pressure. Instead, he embraced the moment.
The rookie pitcher threw 6 2/3 shutout innings in Game 1 against Doosan Bears. However, his team still lost by one, 3-2. Despite the defeat, So was still the star of the match. Both managers praised the young pitcher. They said that they saw the beginnings of a new KBO ace.
So said that he still needs a couple of years of experience before he earns the ace title. He had an excellent regular season with a 13-6 record and an ERA of 3.86. Thus, he was named the Rookie of the Year.
KT Wiz Rookie Starter First KBO Postseason Game
Some sports news coverage analysts questioned the decision to start So against Doosan Bears in Game 1. Some critics said that the young pitcher might not be able to handle the pressure. Also, they thought that he might struggle on the mound due to not playoff experience.
However, So was confident with himself. The rookie pitcher proved his critics wrong by shutting out the Doosan Bears. According to sports forum sources, he wasn’t nervous at all. He gave an outstanding performance during his postseason debut that silenced critics.
Based on Korean sports betting sites, So was more nervous during the Under-18 Baseball World Cup match against Japan. So didn’t do anything different from pitching in the regular season and Game 1 against Doosan Bears. He thought that the hitters were the same.
Also, he enjoyed the opportunity to start in the first game of the series. He lived up to it by competing confidently. He also has no regrets from Game 1 despite their defeat.