Lotte acting manager Jong-woon Lee brought up a story about Kim Sang-soo, the ‘eldest brother’ of the pitching team, ahead of the Ulsan Samsung game on the 5th.
Kim Sang-soo appeared in 60 games until today’s game and is cruising with 4 wins, 1 loss, 1 save, 16 holds, and an ERA of 3.11. “He always prepares well for games and is a good example for his juniors. Acting manager Lee Jong-woon explained, “As the eldest of the team’s pitchers, he steps up and helps the team when it is most difficult.”안전놀이터
In today’s game, Kim Sang-soo proved why Acting Manager Lee Jong-woon praised him so much that his mouth went dry. In the top of the 7th inning, ahead 7-3, with 2 outs and runners on first and second base, he went on the mound and guided Jose Pirella to a fly to center field. In the 8th inning, he easily set up leadoff hitter Oh Jae-il with a ground ball to second base and passed the mound to Jin Seung-hyeon.
Lotte defeated Samsung 10-3 and won two games in a row since the Sajik Doosan game on the 4th. Kim Sang-soo, who met with reporters after the game, responded to Coach Lee Jong-woon’s praise, saying, “It’s something that a player must do and I think it’s basic. “I always accept compliments with gratitude, and the more you praise me, the more I feel responsible,” he humbled himself.
Kim Sang-soo is the founder of ‘momentum,’ the keyword that symbolizes Lotte this season. He said, “Some people say that the word momentum causes me to collapse, but I don’t think so. I think there should be something called momentum.” “But only then can he do the part he needs to do well and he can do it confidently,” he emphasized.
Regarding the secret to his outstanding performance with 1 win, 9 holds, and an ERA of 1.04 while on the mound 22 times in the second half of the season, he said, “I’m still young. People describe me as an old man, but my 42-year-old brother also plays baseball, and I am only 36 years old. “I really don’t want to hear stories about No Ik-jang or his speed dropping due to age,” he said.
He also said, “I’m still in my prime and I can do well, so I wanted to show that I can do it because I thought, why would you say something like that? I gritted my teeth and held on, and held on even though it was hard. “I’m sure there are some players who are going through a difficult time, but I want to send them a message that I hope they will cheer up and come back in good shape after seeing me,” he added.
Kim Sang-soo has a reputation as a player who takes great care of himself. He continues to do weight training and maintains the same physical strength as a player in his 20s. He did not consider it a big deal, saying, “I think we should do that until the day we kiss the mound.”
He, who is called a strong mentor to his juniors, said, “Among the juniors in the pitching team, (Koo) Seung-min and (Kim) Won-joong tend to approach me a lot. He’s actually trying to learn more than he’s coming. “He is grateful to his juniors and tries to give them as many good things as possible.”
When I said that my pride in myself must have grown as I achieved good results, I said, “Some people say that it is over or that the aging curve has arrived, but I believed that if I believed in myself and worked hard until the end, I could overcome my limits and that if I challenged myself, I could succeed someday, but that is reality.” “I think it will work out,” he said with a happy smile.