Lotte Giants’ rising left-handed pitcher Kim Jin-wook (22) is making waves with his refined changeup. Once regarded as an unpolished talent, Kim has shown remarkable progress this spring. His newfound success is largely attributed to advice from MLB veteran Ryu Hyun-jin.
Kim actively utilized the changeup in a recent exhibition game against the LG Twins, striking out batters while skillfully controlling the pace of the game. He credited Ryu for teaching him key grip adjustments and also received advice from his foreign teammates. His performance was particularly impressive, pitching four scoreless innings with a mix of fastballs, sliders, curveballs, and changeups.
Catcher Yoo Kang-nam praised Kim’s rapid adaptation of the new pitch, expressing surprise at how seamlessly he incorporated it into real games. This development has sparked excitement among Lotte Giants fans, with many eager to see how his changeup continues to evolve throughout the season.
Meanwhile, the Lotte Giants are currently ranked second in the March Netizen Awards for professional baseball, securing 473 votes as of March 14.
