Doosan Bears rookie pitcher Choi Min-seok (19) achieved his "first win" in two games after his professional debut.메이저사이트
Choi started the game against KT Wiz in the 2025 KBO League held at KT Wiz Park in Suwon on Sunday. Choi pitched five scoreless innings to lead the team to a 12-3 victory.
Choi made his debut a little later than his peers. Rookie players had high expectations even from this year's spring camp amid the fastball craze of over 150 kilometers. Fearsome fire bowlers such as Hanwha Jung Woo-joo, LG Kim Young-woo, and Samsung's Bae Chan-seung drew attention.
Choi Min-seok, who used to be the ace of Seoul High School, was selected as the 16th overall pick in the second round. Unlike the other players, Choi has a fastball in the mid-140km range, but he has excellent ball control. While his friends gained a chance to play in the bullpen by banking on his fastballs, Choi took the starting position based on stable control.
Choi had an ERA of 0.75 in four Futures League games and was called to the first team. Choi gave three runs (two earned runs) in four innings in the match against SSG on Monday, when he made his debut, but proved his possibility. Choi saved his second chance right away. In the fifth inning against KT on Friday, he escaped to the verge of loading the bases, and secured his first win by himself.
It is the second time this year that a rookie player has won a competition to become a starting pitcher. Choi Min-seok will be the first player since Kiwoom Chung Hyeon-woo (against Gwangju KIA on March 26 and Daejeon Hanwha on April 12). It has been 2,965 days since Kim Myung-shin (two runs allowed in five innings against Masan NC) on April 15, 2017.
Choi said, "The fielders defended me well and supported me a lot, so I was able to throw it comfortably. I was disappointed in my debut match, but I was satisfied. I threw my ball confidently. This time, I practiced to be a little calmer, but the result was good," he said.
Yang Eui-ji, who worked with the battery, led Choi Min-seok well.
Choi Min-seok explained, "Last time, we didn't have many breaking ball strikes, so Yang Eui-ji said that if we make a good breaking ball this time, we will go in an advantageous way. I paid attention to that part."
He started a little later than his peers, but he didn't care. Choi Min-seok said, "I felt good because my friends did well. I wanted to get attention by working hard quickly. I think the coach trusted me and used it because I was good at controlling my ball. As a rookie, I will do my best in the given mission."