‘It smells like an ace.’
Oh Won-seok (22), SSG left-hander starter, runs unstoppable. As of the 19th, Oh Won-seok started in 8 games of the 2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League and maintained an outstanding record of 4 wins and 1 loss with an ERA of 2.96. As of the 18th, Oh Won-seok was tied for 3rd in the league in terms of wins and 10th in ERA. He also gave up just 14 walks and struck out 40 (tied for eighth) in 45.2 innings. Detailed indicators such as hit rate (0.224, 9th place) and on-base per inning rate (1.16, 11th place) are also impeccable.먹튀검증
Oh Won-seok is called ‘post Kim Gwang-hyeon’. Oh Won-seok wore the SK (SSG predecessor) uniform as the first nomination in 2020. At the time of his joining, Oh Won-seok received great expectations for his soft form and fastball as well as his ability to use changing pitches such as sliders, changeups and curveballs. SSG also strategically fostered Oh Won-seok. From his first year as a professional, he made him step on the first team stage, and he was entrusted with 8 games. From 2021, he let them gain experience by turning them into the starting rotation. Oh Won-seok’s skills improved last year. Oh Won-seok went 6-8 in the regular league with an ERA of 4.50, but in the Korean Series that year, he took the mound as a starting pitcher in the 4th game and pitched 5.2 innings, giving up 1 run, contributing greatly to SSG’s Korean Series victory.
But this year, he is showing off his matured skills. On the 4th, his first appearance of the season, against Lotte, he won his first complete win in his debut (7 innings, 1 run, rain cold). In the last 5 games, he threw 5 or more innings and blocked the opponent’s batting line with less than 2 runs. Oh Won-seok is known as the ‘victory fairy’ this year. SSG recorded 7 wins and 1 loss in 8 games with Oh Won-seok on the mound.
Oh Won-seok’s fastball average speed is 142.2 km per hour, which is the league average, but the pitch of his main weapon, the slider, is the best in the league. Opponent batters are stumped by the slider, which flies in the same way as a fastball and then digs into the outside of left-handed batters and the body of right-handed batters about 60cm from the home plate. Because Oh Won-seok’s slider bends quickly and sharply. In fact, Oh Won-seok’s slider hit rate is only 0.158. Praise pours in from people around, saying, “The slider bends more sharply than in previous years.”
However, the slider ratio was reduced. Last year, the percentage of slider use was 30.90%, but this year, it decreased by 6% to 24.81%. An official from SSG’s data analysis team analyzed, “If you use the slider you usually use against left-handed batters and throw it only at important points, it can work better.”
The title here has also changed dramatically. In fact, the walk rate per 9 innings was lowered from 5.97 in 2021 to 3.63 last year, and decreased to 2.76 this year. SSG pitching coach Cho Woong-cheon said, “Oh Won-seok’s overall game management ability has improved, and his pitching mechanism and command have greatly improved. As his pitches stabilize, he seems to be able to throw with confidence and not doze off when facing batters on the mound.” analyzed.