LG Twins' foreign pitcher Ellyager Hernandez has been replaced by a bullpen pitcher instead of a starter in the semi-playoff. It is a sacrifice for a team with weak bullpen.
Ahead of the semi-playoff at Jamsil Stadium on Wednesday, Yeom Kyung-yeop said, "Hernandez is throwing to the bullpen. The second pitcher is more important after starting. Hernandez should play that role. In a game where you throw one or two innings each to win, you have to play every game."
"I am mentally ready because I played as an intermediate pitcher during the season. What I am focusing on is a team win. I want to contribute to my team's victory. I am thinking about that, and if I can do that, it is okay," Hernandez said after training on Wednesday.
Hernandez, who signed with LG at the end of July and made his KBO League debut in early August, pitched in 11 games and recorded three wins, two losses and one save. He has pitched in two games as a bullpen pitcher. He had one inning without losing a point against KT on August 29, and two innings without losing a point against Doosan in the second game of a doubleheader against Doosan on September 21.
In particular, against Doosan, he threw only five balls in the first inning of Game 1 of a doubleheader, threw a head shot at Heo Kyung-min, and was sent off, but took the mound in the eighth inning of Game 2 and recorded a save. He set a record for the fourth time in his history to start Game 1 of a doubleheader and take the mound in Game 2. Hernandez said, "I'm a player who likes to compete and fight on the mound. If the coach put me in such a situation, I think it's natural to play a role that suits the situation."
Hernandez came to Korea during the interview and added a new curve ball, and there was an interesting story.
When asked if he felt the difference between Korean and American baseball, Hernandez said, "At first, I thought it was the same, so I threw confidently. But after a few games, the opposing team knew what I was throwing. That's why I started mixing curves and throwing them," adding, "American hitters want to hit home runs and long balls, but Korean hitters focus on making in-play balls and focus on contact batting. So I thought it was hard to strike out, so I felt it was different from the U.S.."
Hernandez had a very low curve ratio in the U.S. After coming to LG, his curveballs increased in the second half of the season. With the addition of new pitches, such as striking out with curves, the pitching has improved. However, Hernandez said, "I learned the curve grip from interpreter Jung Jong-min."
"When I held it and threw it with the grip that the interpreter showed me, it worked well and I kept training. The curve grip that I threw in the U.S. was uncomfortable. I had to learn curves in a short period of time, so I learned it from an interpreter, and luckily, it hit me well," he said with a smile.
Jeong Jong-min, who was next to him, said, "I am playing baseball as a hobby. I am playing as a pitcher. When I told Hernandez that I was going to throw a curveball, he asked me to show him my curve grip, so I showed it to Hernandez." 메이저사이트 "This is a grip I learned from Lim Chan-kyu, and I showed it to Hernandez. In fact, Lim Chan-kyu taught Hernandez. Hernandez later asked Lim Chan-kyu, too."
Game 1, closing pitcher Yoo Young-chan will not take the mound due to his father's injury. Hernandez may have to finish in Game 1. "I'm looking forward to it, but I'm also nervous. If I take the mound, I have to do what I can as a pitcher and fight well against batters," he said.