No need to talk about the No. 1 rookie of the year.
Kim Taek-yeon (19, Dusan Bears) pitched 2 1/3 innings of two-hit ball with two strikeouts and no walks in Game 2 of the postseason wild-card decider at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul on Wednesday.
Kim has been the best rookie in the league this season. A first-round pick (No. 2 overall) in the 2024 rookie draft, Kim posted a 3-2 record, 19 saves and four shutouts with a 2.08 ERA in 60 games.
“Kim entered the organization with the expectation that he would become Doosan’s closer in two to three years, and he immediately showed his worth in his first year. He made his first save against the SSG Landers on May 21, and then made his 17th save against the Changwon NC Dinos on August 27, becoming the most saves by a high school rookie.
With Kim steadily locking down the back door,
Doosan was able to withstand the loss of starters and finish the regular season in fourth place. Kim also got a chance to make his first fall start.
He didn’t pitch in the first game of the series, which fell to 0-4 after giving up four runs in the first inning. 메이저사이트 Kim had been good all season, but there were questions about what she could do in the postseason. In Game 2, Kim took the mound in the most difficult of situations.
Down 0-1 in the top of the seventh inning, runners on first and second base. Doosan realized that one more run would put the game out of reach, so they sent Kim to the mound. At the plate was Mel Rojas Jr. who was batting .329 with 32 home runs this season.
Perhaps nervous for the postseason, Kim took the mound and showed some wild pitches as he warmed up.
Doosan’s game plan worked.
Once he got into the game, Kim showed 100% of why he is the No. 1 Rookie of the Year this season. From the very first pitch, he drove a fastball right down the middle to start the game. With a full count of seven pitches, Kim threw his eighth pitch, a fastball to center field, and Rojas’ bat spun. Doosan escaped the most critical moment.
With the bats not breaking through, Kim took the mound in the eighth and ninth innings. He threw a total of 38 pitches to keep the game close.
Despite Kim’s efforts, the Doosan offense was unable to score a run and ultimately lost the game 0-1. After dropping games one and two, Doosan became the first wild card team to fail to qualify for the semifinals.
Doosan’s fall was cut short again this year. However, Kim’s comeback was a reminder of the kind of closer that will be around for more than a decade.