"He led me so well..." KIA 30-year-old submariner's '82-inning dedication' must not be forgotten...one man's 'heart'

 "He led me so well."

Before the KIA Tigers' final game against the Gwangju NC Dinos on April 17, manager Kim Jong-kook pointed out the players who have shown the most improvement in their batting this year. Outfielder Lee Woo-sung and pitcher Lim Ki-young are the main characters. They are the MVPs in Kim's mind.

In spring training in Tucson, Arizona, Im was in a five-way battle for the starting job with Kim Ki-hoon and rookie Yoon Young-cheol, but he lost out because of his uniqueness. He started out as a long reliever, then transitioned to a set-up man, then was called upon at increasingly crucial times, and even served as a temporary closer in the first half when Jung Hae-young struggled.

Jang Hyun-sik hasn't played well this season after surgery to remove bone chips from his elbow. Jeon Sang-hyun was also not at his best in the first half, which is when Im Ki-young came in at the back with Choi Ji-min. The fact that Kim Jong-kook was willing to give Jeon Sang-hyun and Jung Hae-young time to regroup in the second team shows how much faith he had in Im Ki-young.

In 64 games, he had a 4-4 record, 3 saves, 16 holds, and a 2.96 ERA. In the first half, he pitched 51 innings in 33 games with a 2.65 ERA. In the second half, he went 31 games and 31 innings with a 3.48 ERA. In September and October, the biggest stretch of the season, he went 2-5 with a 4.40 ERA in 15 games, but by then, the bullpen, including Jeon Sang-hyun, Kim Dae-yu, and Jeong Jung-young, had improved a lot. 먹튀검증

Lim's grip change on his changeup has been more intense than it was as a starter this year. The change in grip has increased the drop of his changeup. According to baseball stats site Statiz, Lim's batting average on his changeup dropped from 0.234 last year to 0.180 this year. His fastball has also dropped from a .266 BABIP last year to .202 this year.

He was the most prolific bullpen pitcher in the league this year. It's the most by a pure reliever. Part of the reason he struggled a bit in September and October was the aftermath of his midseason stretch. No one can complain about Lim's season-ending ups and downs.

Coach Kim Jong-guk said, "Ki-young's pace dropped a bit at the end of the season. I think he was a little shaken up, and I think he cared a lot. He did so well and led the bullpen well. When he wasn't feeling well, he would go out on the field first to prepare, because he knew his pace had dropped."

Lim will be a free agent after the 2024 season. His salary this year is 150 million won. If he performs better next year than this year, he can lay the groundwork for a big free agency. In addition, if he continues to perform as a bullpen pitcher, he will be given the opportunity to show his skills in international competitions such as the Premier 12 in 2024 and the WBC in 2026. He's in his second prime.