The best pitcher in the KBO this season is Ahn Woo-jin (24 wins). Although he has struggled in his last three games, he is still performing well. Her 2.44 ERA ranks first among Korean pitchers and fourth in the entire league. Just like last year, the ERA battle this season seems to be between the foreign aces and Ahn Woo-jin.

If we look a little further out, the picture changes slightly. Doosan’s Kwak Bin (24-photo) has yet to complete a full season (84 innings), but his form is scary. He has a 2.08 ERA in 65 innings pitched. He is right behind NC Eric Peddy (1.73) and teammate Raul Alcantara (2.03). In just 12 starts, he already has eight wins, leading the nation in wins. His Wins Above Replacement (WAR) of 2.54 also ranks 10th among pitchers.스포츠토토

Before Doosan’s winning streak, Kwak-Bin appeared in every crunch in June. He served as the “streak stopper” and prevented the team from falling apart. In early May, he voluntarily stepped off the mound after complaining of back pain while pitching, and it took him nearly a month to return, but since then, he has been unstoppable. Doosan has won all six of his starts since May 31 against the NC. Kwak-Bin himself has won all but one of his starts since his return. When asked about his recent winning streak, Kwak said, “First of all, I’ve been lucky. I’m only throwing according to the catcher’s sign,” he said, adding, “I feel like my experiences from last year and the year before are working out.” As he gained experience, he became more confident and was able to throw his pitches without wavering.

The biggest change in Kwak’s pitching this season has been a significant increase in his curveball percentage. From 11.4% last season to 19% this year. His performance started to improve in the second half of last year when he started using his curveball more, and this year it has become his main weapon. The “two-headed monster” effect can’t be ignored. “I don’t usually throw more than three of the same type of pitches, but (Yang) will order three or four of the same ball if he thinks it’s good. I’m learning that there is a way to throw like this,” he said.

Kwak Bin is the same age as Ahn Woo-jin and was motivated to turn pro. He shakes his head when asked if he wants to win the title of best starter in Korea. His ERA record is meaningless because he hasn’t pitched a full game yet. “I have to do well for at least three years before I can think about grades or titles,” he said. It was only last year that Kwak Bin became an ace. His strong second half earned him a spot on the WBC team. Applying his ‘three-year standard’, next year is a ‘promising year’. “If I can do well until next year, I can be really greedy,” Kwak said in a calm voice. “We’ll see after next season.”