Hanwha right-handed pitcher Lee Min-woo (30) was the first choice prospect. After attending Hyocheon High School and Kyungsung University, he joined KIA as the first choice in 2015, and on September 14, 2017, his first team debut, he made a splendid appearance as a starter against Sajik Lotte (6 innings, 2 runs). 메이저사이트
In 2020, I wanted to establish myself by playing an active role with 3 wins in 5 games and an average ERA of 3.23 in the first month of May. However, after that, it did not grow as much as expected, and on April 23 of last year, the team moved to Hanwha through a trade. Even after coming to Hanwha, he pitched in 4 games as a substitute starter and won 1 game, but struggled with an ERA of 6.14.
As a starter, it was not good with an average ERA of 7.27 with 10 wins and 25 losses in 49 career games. As for relief, he had 3 wins, 2 losses, 1 save, 6 holds, and an average ERA of 4.85 in 80 games, which was better than the start. Last year, in the 2nd Division Futures League, all 12 games were relieved, 2 wins, 3 saves, 3 holds, and an average ERA of 0.00 with 1 run in 14 innings (visa).
He’s been back and forth between start and relief throughout his career, but the new season is anchored to the bullpen. He is preparing for salvation at Futures Camp. Hanwha Futures coach Choi Won-ho said of Lee Min-woo, “I used it as a last-minute finish last year, but it is really good when the speed comes out at 147-148 km. He has to come out in the mid-140km range or more before he can be a setup man. “I have to do power pitching,” he said. “I will go to Kochi Futures Camp (starting on the 8th), watch the pitching, see which color suits me better, and find out (how to use it) while talking.”
Hanwha 1st team coach Carlos Subero also said of Lee Min-woo, “He has a better pitch when throwing short innings than long innings. From the beginning, he saw his potential as a relief pitcher,” he said. In the meantime, Lee Min-woo’s balance was shaken as he went back and forth between starter and relief, overlapping with irregular pitching intervals. He went down to District 2 in regret, but prepared an opportunity to rebound in Seosan.
Lee Min-woo said, “I think the bullpen suits me better than the starting pitcher. When he throws 1-2 short innings, his speed comes out well and his concentration is good. Even last year, when he was in the first team, he had thoughts that it would have been better if he had continued to play the bullpen. He gained confidence while finishing with the bullpen at Futures,” he said. “Meeting coach Choi Won-ho changed my mind a lot. I used to have a lot of complaints, but that’s gone. The director is very considerate. He allows me to go up the mound by giving me time to relax from warming up. He created the environment and conditions to throw well,” he said, expressing his gratitude.
Although he was excluded from the first-team camp, the Futures Camp with coach Choi Won-ho could be an opportunity for Lee Min-woo to take a bigger leap forward. He lost 5 kg in his off-season and worked on improving his changeup. He said, “When playing lefties, you need an off-speed ball. In 2020, he threw a changeup for a while, but he practiced with a ball with a clearer speed difference than that,” he said, saying he would continue to make efforts for this even during camp.
With the addition of new players such as free agents, rookies and trades, the Hanwha pitching staff has become thicker and the competition has become more fierce. Lee Min-woo said, “I don’t know when I’ll be in the first team, but if I’m well prepared, the opportunity will come.” He said, “If I go to the first team, I want to make at least 10 wins, holds, and saves in the bullpen without injury.”