Frog Operation, by Lim Chan-kyu, who took pride, and the big leaguers in succession
Published: 2024-03-18 09:02:05

Lim Chan-kyu 32, LG, who is trying anew as a full-time starter, gained great confidence in the match against active major leaguers.

Lim started a practice game against the San Diego Padres in the Gocheok Sky Dome on Wednesday, and allowed four hits one homer and one walk and two runs in five innings. He garnered attention by making "unusual pitches" by striking out as many as seven.

The San Diego Padres had a neck-and-neck race with Team Korea at 7 p.m. on Wednesday last week. Their batting conditions were not so normal that they only had four hits and secured the winning run, taking advantage of wild pitch to win 1-0. Lim Chan-kyu is surprising that he has secured seven strikeouts from active major leaguers, although he is still jet-lagged due to his long flight from the U.S. to Korea. "I am grateful to the manager for allowing me to participate in such a great game," Lim said with a smile.

The breaking ball shone. Lim struck out Xander Bogaerts, Fernando Tatis Jr. and Jake Cronenworth in succession in the first inning. All of them hit changeups, which resulted in crystal balls. A home run hit by Kim Ha-sung at the second base with no outs in the top of the second inning also came out in a changeup, but he struck out Egui Rosario and Kyle Higashioka in succession after one out. Again, the crystal ball was changeup.

Lim Chan-kyu threw 65 pitches on the day. Among them, 26 curves were 26. The average fastball speed was 142 kilometers, while the average curve speed was 109 kilometers and the minimum speed was 94 kilometers. As unfamiliar speed and unfamiliar type of pitcher Lim Chan-kyu mixed his fastball, changeup and curve, major leaguers couldn't get the timing.

"When a frog tries to lean itself like a bull, it bursts open," Lim Chan-kyu said. "I just threw like a frog today because nothing like that happened," Lim said. "I wanted to compete with American hitters with my breaking ball, and I felt good because the result was good. I thought I wouldn't throw a fumble because they are the best hitters in the world, and I think because it's my first time, the hitters didn't hit the center well."

LG was the champion of the KBO League in the last season. It faces Major League teams, the world's best league, but it had to keep its pride, and LG manager Yeom Kyung-yeop called for Lim Chan-kyu, signaling an all-out war to "play as an elite member." Lim Chan-kyu had a heavy shoulder even when he threw like a frog. Lim watched all of the practice games between San Diego and LA Dodgers on Wednesday.

Lim Chan-kyu said, "I watched Team Korea's video yesterday. I also felt something while watching the Dodgers-Kium battle when I saw Won Tae-in and Moon Dong-ju throwing balls. I confirmed that there is no forgiveness for balls that don't go to pinpoints. I want to throw balls like this even after the season starts."

Lim Chan-kyu, who returned to the starting lineup last year after transforming into a bullpen and failed to hit a single that he had hoped to become a native LG Twins player for a long time, is a full-time starter for this year's defending champion team. He completed actual inspection before the opening game by pitching in the game against San Diego, and gained confidence.

"We are the winning team from last year. I wanted to throw what I felt while playing full-time as the starting member of the winning team. They are far better than us in terms of performance, but I threw with the determination that we can play on an equal footing. I had a good experience before the opening game," Lim said.  [안전놀이터](https://www.gwolf.info/)