Cho Byung-hyun (23), who is challenging himself as a full-time firefighter for the first time since his debut, is cruising fast. He will take charge of closing the game with a "credited and used card" by SSG coach Lee Soo-yong this season.메이저놀이터

"I think I'm throwing better than I expected," said Cho Byung-hyun, who met the Samsung Lions at SSG Landers Field in Incheon on the 29th. "I'm satisfied because I'm continuing the no-go game." He has 12 saves (4 wins, 6 losses, 12 holds ERA of 3.58) by switching from a middle pitcher to a closer during last season's season, and has 3 wins, 1 loss, 4 saves and an ERA of 0.69 in 12 games this season.

He is still slightly behind his rivals in the save competition, but he has not given much meaning to the number of saves. "Saving is not something I can do just because I want to do," Cho said. "It is enough if my team can play in the winning game and contribute to the victory." However, he does not mean that he does not have a goal. "Still, my goal is to make more than 30 saves," Cho said with a smile. "I throw the ball with the intention of not reversing even if I give a point in the game I play."

Cho Byung-hyun, who first experienced finishing last year, also changed his mind in his second year. "Last year, I thought to throw without regret even if I gave him a score, but this year, I changed my mind to throw it so that the team could win," he said. Regarding the trust of coach Lee, who said, "I believe even if I shake it, I believe it," even before the season, he stressed, "I've come to believe myself more because the coach trusts me and writes it."

This season, Cho struck out 11 batters during 13 innings. Although this is not an overwhelming figure, he has continuously displayed his capabilities as a "Doctor K" although he struck out 96 batters during 73 innings during the 2024 season. "We have more data on batters than last year, and now we can analyze opponents better," Cho said. "When a batter comes in, it reminds me of where to throw." He also has confidence in his fastballs. "Even if I fall out, I will throw confidently," Cho said.

Young and fastball finishing touches are appearing one after another in the KBO League this season. KT Park Young-hyun, Doosan Kim Taek-yeon, and Hanwha Kim Seo-hyun are leading the save race. "Like them, I want to play with my ball," Cho said. "I want to throw better."

He also has aspirations for the national flag in his heart. "It was a big experience just to go to the national team last year, and I was able to check how much my ball worked on the international stage," he said, adding, "I really want to go back to the warm-up match against Japan after the season by performing well without getting hurt this year."