Can Samsung Lions Won Tae-in (23) make 2023 the best year?
2022 was an unfortunate season for Won Tae-in in many ways. Samsung’s ranking, which rose to second place in the regular league in the 2021 season, fell to seventh place in one season. Won Tae-in, who played the role of a native ace, recorded 10-8 with an ERA of 3.92 and won double-digit victories for two consecutive years, but compared to 2021, there were many regrets.
Won Tae-in revealed his thoughts on 바카라, the reason why the 2022 season was sluggish on a YouTube channel in January. He said, “Originally, it’s a style of recording the best grades in the first half and gradually dropping in the second half to get a good average, but in 2021, I threw too many (158⅔ innings) than I thought, so when preparing for the 2022 season, even if the pace comes up a little late, let’s make it slow. I thought. That’s how I built my body and started the season, but my pace didn’t come up until the end of the first half, so in a way, I didn’t have good skills in the first half, which was my strength.”
In fact, since Won Tae-in’s debut season in 2019, there was a big difference between the first half (3-5, ERA 2.86) and the second half (1-3, ERA 9.45). In 2020 (first half, 5 wins, 2 losses, ERA 3.56 / second half, 1 win, 8 losses, ERA 6.15), the difference between the first half and the second half was also large. In 2021, which was a career high (10-4, ERA 2.54 in the first half / 4-3, ERA 3.78 in the second half), the difference narrowed, but it was still a weak pace. Last year, for the first time since his debut, the number of wins in the first half was less than in the second half (first half 4 wins 5 losses ERA 3.70 / second half 6 wins 3 losses ERA 4.19). Compared to the 2021 season, last year showed ups and downs more often by game overall.
For Won Tae-in, who has been hesitant, participation in the WBC competition can be seen as a good thing. Won Tae-in, who failed to adjust his pace last year, is improving his condition early in line with the tournament to be held in March. He started off-season training early in Korea as well, and also trained jointly in the United States with Ko Young-pyo and So-young Joon (kt Wiz). Won Tae-in, who participated in the spring camp, pitched 2 innings without a hit and 3 strikeouts in a practice match against Chunichi Dragons on the 11th. His highest speed is 146 km / h, so he is steadily improving his condition.
Won Tae-in has revealed his three goals this season as “10 wins or more, an ERA in the early 3-point range, and 15 quality starts.” His performance in 2021 (14 wins, 7 losses, 3.06) became the reference point he set himself. Expectations are high that Won Tae-in, who has figured out his style through his experience last year, will be able to spend the best season with his ‘full strength’ rather than ‘full strength’ in good condition.