Kim Seo-hyun, what exactly has changed?

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Kim Seo-hyun's comeback after 105 days: If he "reorganized," what has actually changed? Kim Seo-hyun returned to the first-team mound after 105 days. On the 20th, during the game against KIA in Daejeon, he appeared in the top of the 9th inning with one out and a runner on first, while Hanwha was trailing 6-8. The result was 2/3 innings, 2 hits, 1 walk, 1 strikeout, and 1 run allowed. His maximum velocity was 151km/h. I do not want to say that Kim Seo-hyun failed based on this single game alone.
It was his first first-team appearance in 105 days. He might have been nervous, or his game feel might not have been fully restored. Conversely, there is no need to make a fuss and claim "Kim Seo-hyun is completely back" just because he retires the side in order in his next appearance or throws fastballs in the mid-150s. Throwing well for one or two games is not what matters. A player's skill must be proven through consistency. What I have been constantly wondering while watching Kim Seo-hyun is something else. Exactly what did he "reorganize" in the Futures League?
In the Futures League, Kim Seo-hyun appeared in 24 games, recording 2 wins, 1 loss, 2 holds, 1 save, and an ERA of 3.86. The numbers improved. However, a lower ERA does not necessarily mean that all the problems that have appeared so far have been resolved. In my view, Kim Seo-hyun's issues should be examined in two major areas: mental and technique. Why does his control waver under pressure? Can he maintain his rhythm even after allowing a walk or a hit? Can he trust his pitches and throw them even when runners are on base and the situation becomes difficult? This is the mental aspect. Technically, we must also look at whether his pitching balance has stabilized, whether his release point has become consistent, whether his fastball command has improved, and whether he has pitches that can get strikes even in unfavorable counts. These are the actual contents of "reorganization."
However, Manager Kim Kyung-moon's explanation is too vague. Expecting Kim Seo-hyun and Jeong Woo-ju to show a different side in the first team since they underwent reorganization in the Futures League, he spoke along the lines of, "Since the atmosphere is different when pitching in the first team, I believe they will change." Hearing this, I tilted my head in confusion. If the atmosphere in the first team is different, what exactly will change? On the contrary, the pressure in the first team is much greater than in the Futures League. The level of hitters is higher, and a single mistake can lead to the outcome of the game. Atmosphere does not fix control, nor does it correct pitching balance. Instead of vague expectations, actual skill must be demonstrated.
In yesterday's comeback game, Kim Seo-hyun gave up a hit to the first batter, Kim Do-young. He followed that by allowing another hit to Na Sung-bum, and with the bases loaded, he hit Kim Tae-gun with a pitch. Of course, one should not judge the success or failure of the reorganization based on only 2/3 of an inning. Rather, we must watch from now on. Do the same problems appear in the next appearance? Does he maintain his pitching balance when runners are on base? Does he throw strikes confidently even in close situations? Does he show the same pitching in consecutive appearances? Only after these things appear stably over several games can we say that "reorganization has been completed." And another point I want to point out is the specificity of manager interviews.
"They have reorganized." If so, a reporter should ask, "Manager, what exactly do you mean by reorganized?" "They will be different in the first team." Then one should ask again, "What specific parts have changed for you to make that judgment?" "We will prepare well tomorrow." Then one should ask once more, "What exactly will you prepare, and how?" This is what an interview is. A few days ago, I had a long phone call with a reporter living in LA. I heard from them about the culture of manager interviews in Major League Baseball. What a manager says becomes a record. They say reporters look back at what the manager said previously and ask again if the context does not match. Therefore, managers must take responsibility for their words. It is difficult to say one thing yesterday and something else today. A manager's baseball is revealed through such questions.
What about our professional baseball? "It will get better." "We prepared well." "We reorganized." "The atmosphere will change." "We will prepare well tomorrow." There are words, but there is no "what," "why," or "how." What fans want from a manager is not difficult baseball theory. Why did you send that player to the second team? What did you fix? What did you judge to have improved? Therefore, why did you call him back to the first team? And if he is still lacking, what will you fix moving forward? They want to hear that explanation.
Kim Seo-hyun is still a young pitcher of 22. He is a valuable resource with powerful stuff. Because of that, we should not judge his success or failure too hastily. Let's not make him a hero just because he pitched well for one game, nor let's make him a failed pitcher just because he collapsed in one game. A leader must diagnose accurately, prescribe specifically, and confirm while waiting.
And they must be able to explain that process to the fans. Korean professional baseball is approaching its 45th year. Now, it is not just performance that should evolve, but manager interviews and reporter questions should evolve together. More important than the first question is the second question: "Manager, why did you make that judgment?"
And if necessary, one must go as far as the third question. I also hope that Kim Seo-hyun pitches well in his next game. However, I will watch a little longer without being swayed by the results of one or two games. Because in baseball, true change is not proven by words. Instead of vague expectations, actual skill must be demonstrated.
And that skill must be proven not by a single game, but by consistency.#KimSeohyun#HanwhaEagles#KimKyungmoon#KBOLeague#ParkYongjinBaseballColumn#ParkYongjinBaseballStory