After a successful debut All-Star Game outing, SSG ‘romantic’ pitcher Noh Kyung-eun (39) is back with a vengeance, aiming to help her team win the title in the second half.카지노사이트
When we met SSG pitcher Noh Kyung-eun (39) at Sajik Stadium in Busan on the 15th of this month, his All-Star commemorative hat was emblazoned with the number ‘1’. It was his first appearance at the KBO League’s “Feast of Stars” in his 21st year as a professional.
The veteran’s name has always been preceded by the epithet ‘Pung-woon-ah’. From his short stint with Doosan, to his trade to Lotte, to his free agency with Mia, to his release by Seol-um, he’s been through the wringer during his professional career.
SSG coach Kim Won-hyung held his hand as he wandered without a club.
SSG bullpen Noh Kyung-eun pitches at full strength. Courtesy of SSG
Noh tried out for SSG ahead of the 2022 season, and split time between the starting rotation and the bullpen, posting a stellar 12 wins (5 losses) and a 3.05 ERA that year. His “rejuvenation” helped SSG win the wire-to-wire title last season.
This season, Noh continues to be SSG’s core right-handed bullpen with a fastball in the mid-to-high 140km/h range. She was particularly solid in her first 24 appearances through May, collecting 13 holds with a 1.73 ERA. After June, he struggled a bit and his ERA soared to 3.95 in the first half, but he still led the league in that category with 18 saves in 39 games.
Noh, who is having a “second wind” in the twilight of his baseball career, was honoured to be selected as a “Late Bloomer” All-Star by his manager. He took the mound as Dream’s third pitcher in the third inning of the All-Star Game, facing a shared batting line-up of Chae Eun-sung (Hanwha), Choi Hyung-woo (KIA), Socrates Brito (KIA), and Noh Si-hwan (Hanwha). He gave up a double to Socrates in the second inning, but got Noh Si-hwan to fly out to third base to end his All-Star debut without allowing an earned run.
SSG bullpen Noh Kyung-eun roars after closing out this inning. Courtesy of SSG
“For me, the All-Star Game was a once-a-year holiday. I only thought about going somewhere to play and heal after the first half,” she said. “Being selected as an All-Star is an event that will last a long time in my family, so I wanted to enjoy this moment more with the fans.”
Noh Kyung-eun was especially grateful to Kim. “It was thanks to him that I was able to join the SSG team and that I was selected as an All-Star,” she said, “and what I can do for him is to close as many innings as possible in the second half.”
Noh is also determined for the second half. “I’m just thinking about shutting down the opposition batting line-up no matter what in the remaining games,” she said. “At the end of the season, if we win the championship for the second year in a row, I think all the puzzles will fall into place.”