Lotte Giants right-hander Na Kyun-an started against Sajik NC on the 12th. He recorded a quality start (more than six innings and less than three earned runs) with 11 hits, one walk, eight strikeouts and three runs in six innings. Lotte lost 3-4.
Controversy over excessive use of Na Kyun-an has risen. Na Kyun-an threw 110 pitches against Sajik KT (two runs in seven innings) on the 27th of last month. On the 6th, he was responsible for 115 pitches in the match against Ulsan Samsung (one run in six innings). It was the highest number of pitches in a single individual game.
He then played 122 pitches against NC on the 12th. He renewed the most pitches in one game. He took the mound in the sixth inning even though he already threw 104 pitches until the fifth inning. In the situation of being dragged 0-3, criticism arose that Lotte’s coaching staff might have forced Na Kyun-an to be hired without a reasonable reason.
Lotte’s acting coach Lee Jong-woon spoke ahead of the Gwangju KIA match on the 13th. “After five innings, I notified the pitching coach of the replacement. (B)Gyun-an said, “I’m in good shape, so I’ll throw just one more inning,” adding, “I think he was sorry to come down from the mound because he wanted to finish.” “Even catcher Kang Nam-eun asked for one more chance, so we decided to respect the player’s will,” he said.먹튀검증
“Gyun-an expressed his intention twice. I think I wanted to take responsibility (for the innings). The pitching coach also asked for the ball from Kyun-an for replacement, but he seemed embarrassed because he didn’t give it to him, he said. “There is no reason to make Kyun-an throw like that at a time when we are losing.” These days, it is not an era where players go out unconditionally just because the coaching staff tells them to throw more,” he added.
I gave a thumbs up to Na Kyun-an. Acting Lee said, “He’s a good pitcher. He has control and endurance, he said. “Mind is also a very positive player. I want to compliment him,” he said with a smile.
Pitcher coach Kim Hyun-wook also explained the situation at the time. Coach Kim said, “Even if I tried to take the ball away, he wouldn’t give it to me. How about thinking that he understood the player’s desire to pitch until the sixth inning? “If the player had a hard time and asked me to throw it for the team, I would admit that it was too much work. However, he expressed that he wanted to do it and that he had power left. “Even I felt the ball was okay until the end,” he said.
Some pointed out that the coaching staff should have firmly replaced Na Kyun-an. Coach Kim said, “Of course, there are definitely parts that we need to cut. “I also decided that I should replace him,” he said, adding, “But even before the player took the mound in the sixth inning, he said, “I’ll take responsibility and block him.” “So I wanted to believe in Gyun-an,” he said. “There is also a problem of trust between players and coaches. It was also difficult to ignore the mind in a situation where the player’s will was strong. “If I had a hit by Park Kun-woo (who was the last batter in the sixth inning), I would have replaced him, but I thought I would block him, and he actually did a good job,” he said.
On the morning of the 13th, he visited Lee and bowed his head. Coach Kim said, “I told the coach, ‘I should have made a decision, but I’m sorry.’ The coach said, “Didn’t we recognize the player?” and told the conversation.
Finally, coach Kim said, “There seems to be a little controversy because we are engaged in an all-out war every game. I feel responsible as a pitching coach, he said. “The coach and staff are discussing the direction the team should go every day. All of our pitchers are dedicated and prepare hard. “I hope you look at it positively,” he said cautiously.
Na Kyun-an joined Lotte in the third place in the second first round in 2017 after going through Yongma High School. Originally a catcher, he changed his position to a pitcher and took the mound from 2021. As a batter, he batted .123 (45 hits in 366 at-bats) with five home runs and 24 RBIs in 216 games over four seasons, including one game in 2021. As a pitcher, he has pitched in 284 innings in 83 games in three seasons so far this year with 10 wins, 16 losses, 3 holds, and a 4.15 ERA.
This season, he had 6 wins, 6 losses, and a 3.45 ERA in 120 innings in 21 games. Thanks to his performance, he was also selected for the national team at the Hangzhou Asian Games. He will participate in the national team’s first call-up training on the 23rd.