Right-handed pitcher An Woo-jin (24, Kiwoom Heroes) is currently concentrating on preparing for the 2023 season. He was the best starting pitcher of the time, who won two KBO League pitching crowns (ERA and strikeouts) last year and even won the Golden Glove, but his participation in the World Baseball Classic (WBC), which will be held next month, was frustrated due to his history of school violence (school violence) committed during high school. During spring camp in Scottsdale, Arizona, USA, he said in an interview with this magazine, “I have no regrets because I am lacking. I will support the players representing the country as a nation.”
The WBC is held before the opening of professional baseball. Athletes participating in the competition must improve their condition faster than in previous years. The off-season break is short, so the physical burden is not small. An Woo-jin, who led the league in the number of pitches in the regular season last year (3003 pitches), is now able to prepare for the season with more leisure. Instead of not being able to participate in the competition, he looked back on last year and carefully concluded what to improve.
An Woo-jin said, “Last year, I threw accurately and the results were good. I realized something in this area, so I am training with a focus on throwing accurately (during the camp).” Woojin An’s walks per 9 innings were 3.43 in 2021. However, by lowering this figure to 2.53 last year, the power of the mound has increased. He threw a fast ball in the latter half of 150 km per hour, but he was close to impregnable as he was caught even with the first pitch.
He said, “I gave up my obsession with winning. Victory is not something I can control.” Denis’ ERA has gone down,” he said with satisfaction.
The effect of reducing walks was immediately apparent. An Woo-jin said, “I’m still not a pitcher with perfect pitches, but the batters attacked faster when I lowered the walk rate. In the beginning of the season, there were a lot of pitches, but in the middle and late half, it wasn’t. This is the result of changing the image of a pitcher who gives walks. I try not to get struck out.” The number of pitches decreased and the number of strikeouts increased because hitters attacked quickly. I think it is important to change the image,” he laughed. An Woo-jin had 2.34 walks per 9 innings in the second half of last year, 0.33 less than the first half. The number of pitches per inning was 15, down 0.6 from the first half. He reduced the number of walks with aggressive pitching, which served as a basis for improving his personal performance.
Ahn Woo-jin has grown through the 2022 season. After his debut in 2018, he played the first regular innings (144 innings) and accumulated various experiences. He said, “Even if you throw a ball on which course, you can earn points. For example, if you throw the slider low on the outside, you get a double play, and if you throw it high on the outside, you have a high chance of getting an outfield fly. I learned something like that formula to some extent.” 카지노 “Of course, I have to do better than last year. I don’t think there is a player who wants to stay in place. I have to improve a little more,” he emphasized.
When Kiwoom finishes the 2023 season, Lee Jung-hoo, the leading hitter, will challenge the American Major League (MLB) stage. This season is virtually the last chance to challenge for the Korean Series championship with Lee Jung-hoo. Ahn Woo-jin knows this better than anyone else. He said, “I was very concerned that I threw a lot last season, but my physical condition doesn’t feel that way at all. As (fatigue) builds up, overload may come, but there is nothing like that in the process of preparing for the season.” Just like last year) I want Jungwoo hyung to throw well from the side so he won’t be lonely.”
What you think about on the mound is a walk. A little lower walks can make him a harder pitcher to hit. It is an upgrade point he thinks. Ahn Woo-jin said, “I want to break the prejudice that pitchers who throw fast balls don’t have control.”