Bae Chan-seung, baseball participant, pitches in opposition to the Yomiuri Giants throughout a spring coaching recreation at Okinawa Mobile Stadium in Naha, on this picture offered by the Lions, Japan, Feb. 16. Yonhap
Contemporary out of highschool, Samsung Lions rookie pitcher Bae Chan-seung turned heads throughout his first spring coaching within the Korea Baseball Group (KBO), flashing a tough fastball to maintain veteran hitters at bay in intrasquad scrimmages and apply video games in opposition to Japanese and KBO groups.
The No. 3 general decide eventually 12 months’s draft, the 19-year-old left-hander didn’t quit a run in 4 innings of reduction work whereas putting out 4 batters. The Lions consider they might have a future nearer on their hand, and Bae himself has set a transparent purpose for himself in 2025.
„I wish to win the Rookie of the Yr award and be a constant a part of the bullpen,“ Bae instructed reporters at Incheon Worldwide Airport, west of Seoul, after arriving again from spring coaching in Japan. „I might prefer to be relied upon to guard late leads and decide up at the very least 10 holds.“
The 2 gamers chosen forward of Bae on the draft had been each extremely touted pitchers, with left-hander Jung Hyun-woo going to the Kiwoom Heroes and right-hander Jeong Woo-joo becoming a member of the Hanwha Eagles.
Each gamers have gained rave evaluations with their spring performances, and the 2025 rookie class has the makings of a powerful one.
„There are such a lot of gifted gamers in our class this 12 months, and I’m wanting ahead to competing in opposition to them,“ Bae stated.
Amid the accolades, Bae is making an attempt to remain grounded. Requested how he would grade himself after such a powerful camp, Bae stated, „I do not assume there’s such a factor as an ideal spring coaching. I might give myself possibly 70 or 80 factors.“
Bae stated he was happy to have emerged from his first skilled camp wholesome, however he would have appreciated to have thrown extra strikes.
Specifically, he wasn’t as sharp in opposition to right-handed batters as in opposition to left-handers, not unusual for younger southpaws in opposition to same-handed opponents.
„I feel I had some command points in opposition to right-handed batters. If I can throw extra strikes in opposition to them, I must be positive,“ he stated. „However I do not actually really feel any totally different going through right-handed hitters or left-handed hitters.“
Bae stated he felt „excited“ after studying media experiences predicting he would be a part of the Lions‘ bullpen from the beginning of the brand new season.
„I by no means imagined I might obtain this a lot consideration,“ Bae stated, his voice barely above a whisper. „I feel I’ve to attempt to stay as much as expectations.“
The exhibition season begins Saturday, and Bae stated he’ll most likely be extra nervous in these preseason video games than he was throughout low-stress scrimmages.
„However I’ll attempt to benefit from the expertise,“ he added. „I really feel like I’m in fairly good condition proper now and I might like to take care of it going ahead.“ (Yonhap)
