Lotte pitcher Kim Sang-soo (35) is succeeding in recovering after overcoming the sadness of being released.
Kim Sang-soo, who was released at the end of last season, also seriously considered his retirement. With advice from people around me, I made a new start at Lotte with the mindset of ‘Let’s try one more year’. He has become indispensable in the Lotte bullpen.
Kim Sang-soo climbed메이저사이트 the mound in the 8th inning with a 1-1 tie against KT in Suwon on the 12th. Alford and Moon Sang-cheol struck out one after another. Alford’s 141km fastball was a miss, and Moon Sang-cheol’s 141km fastball was full on the outside. After two outs, Kim Sang-soo got a hit, but Hong Hyun-bin was treated as a floating ball for center fielder and blocked with no runs.
Earlier, on the 11th, against Sajik Doosan, he pitched in the 10th inning with a scoreless inning and saved, and it was his second consecutive appearance. Kim Sang-soo is recording 3 wins, 1 save, 4 holds, and an ERA of 1.98 in 18 games this season. He is doing great than expected as a transfer student.
After finishing the 2020 season, Kim Sang-soo obtained FA qualification. SK (currently SSG) was signed and traded. Kim Sang-soo transferred to SK, and Kiwoom received 300 million won from SK and the 2022 rookie draft nomination right (2nd 4th round).
Kim Sang-soo has not been very active in SSG for two years. In 2021, he appeared in 50 games and went 4-3 with 6 saves and 5 holds, his earned run average as high as 5.09. In 2022, he started in just eight games for the first team and performed poorly with one save and a 9.00 earned run average. released after the season.
[OSEN=Changwon, Reporter Lee Seok-woo] Lotte Giants Kim Sang-soo / foto0307@osen.co.kr
Kim Sang-soo recalled that time and said, “I had a lot of thoughts about retirement. it’s tough. It’s too heavy. After playing for 17 years, he had no pain in his body, but it was mentally difficult. My family is having a hard time too… ” he said.
He is said to have gained strength from the advice around him. He said, “Many leaders around me, teachers, and seniors… The seniors I worked with, such as Joo-Won hyung, Taek-Geun hyung, and Byeong-Ho hyung, said, ‘Go to a team that wants you for just one year and play baseball. You will see something different,’ he said. When I quit after thinking about it, many people (teams) came to visit me, and I came to think that I was still needed, and I really decided to work hard for just one year.”
The failures and trials at SSG eventually helped him to recover. Kim Sang-soo said, “After signing the free agent contract, he really wanted to do well at SSG, but rather gave him a trial. I was asked if I should stop playing baseball, but I think I can do this now because I endured it well. Just thank you,” he said.
He continued, “I think that opportunities are created by players. Whether or not I received a chance at SSG, I couldn’t. After going through that, my mindset has changed, I think I’ve become more mature, and I think I’m playing baseball with a better mentality.”
[OSEN=Busan, Reporter Lee Seok-woo] Lotte Giants Pitching Coach Bae Young-soo and Pitcher Kim Sang-soo / foto0307@osen.co.kr
There is no secret to making a special change after coming to Lotte. The fastball restraint is in the early and mid-140 km, and the fork ball is used as the main weapon. Kim Sang-soo said, “There is no reason when it does not work. No matter what he did, no matter how hard he worked, he couldn’t get up early in the morning to exercise or do anything special. I think the time has come for things to go well because I endured the time well and kept doing it.”
A month has passed since I wore the Lotte uniform. Kim Sang-soo said, “I just enjoy playing baseball, and my teammates are so good at it, so it seems that the coach and manager continue to create a good environment.”
He is also leading juniors as a senior in the bullpen. He said, “The first thing is to keep blocking without giving points in my position, and the second role is to help the bullpen pitchers from the side and create an environment so that they can do well. I am working on it,” he said.
