It was summer at Ganghwa SSG Futures Field under scorching sun. Park Jong-hoon (34, SSG), who was perhaps not a good name for the team, was silently preparing to start the game. Despite the hot weather and continuous pitching in the second division, he did not have any irritation on his face. He kept joking around in front of his juniors so as not to make it obvious.메이저사이트

It was a season that started with a renewed mind, but Park Jong-hoon's long stay here meant that something was going wrong with him and SSG's season. Park Jong-hoon, who had not found his ball in a row since elbow surgery, got another chance from SSG coach Lee Sung-yong ahead of the season. But after a jagged pitch, an overall sluggish pitch, he moved down to the second division on June 17 and spent all of his summer here.

Park Jong-hoon, who recorded only one quality start (more than six innings and less than three earned runs) in nine appearances this season, hit a wall again. Frustrating times continued for everyone. Although he had outstanding performances (seven wins and three losses with a 1.95 ERA in 15 games) in the Futures League, he was rarely given a chance to play in the first division. Nevertheless, Park Jong-hoon was not giving up. Park said he was in a phase where he was emptying his mind while recalling the time. "I thought that if I keep throwing and make a result here, I will be able to go up to the first division and throw with confidence," Park recalled. Anyway, it was not a process suitable for Park's career with 72 wins in the KBO league.

Park Jong-hoon's topic ahead of the 2024 season was weight loss. Park Jong-hoon, who had grown physically to throw stronger balls during the bulk-up boom, had the reverse idea of returning to his best body. He lost weight through hard work throughout the off-season. He believed that his body became lighter. But that was his idea. His body, which was used to the 'big' condition, did not. After the camp was over, when he entered the season, he actually began to lose weight. Park Jong-hoon confessed, "I felt tired in the beginning. I lost weight again while playing baseball while I gained weight rapidly. So I was tired." As the ball didn't have enough strength, the ball dropped. The ball that was hit well began to fly to the outfield.

I didn't have time to be frustrated, and I thought a lot about it. Still, as I kept throwing, I felt like I was looking for my old body. Sohn Si-hun, head coach of the Futures Team, and Ryu Taek-hyun, coach of Bae Young-soo, also made great efforts to help Park continue to have fun in baseball. Park Jong-hoon, who had the opportunity to take the mound for the last time of the season, ended the season with a turning point. He displayed good pitching in the match against Changwon NC on Sept. 25, providing an opportunity for his team to compete for the fifth place until the very end.

At that time, SSG needed to win, but one spot in the rotation had a hole in it. To make matters worse, the opposing pitcher was Kyle Hart, one of the best pitchers in the KBO League in 2024. In addition, Park Jong-hoon did not take the mound for a month, which made it difficult for him to maintain his condition. Although the situation was in emergency, Park Jong-hoon played a decisive role by leading his team to victory by allowing two hits, six strikeouts, and one run during the four ⅔ innings. The mound showed Park's potential to rebound, which provided him with a ticket to start again in 2025. "Park Jong-hoon showed a performance at the end," manager Lee explained.

Park Jong-hoon emptied his mind and tries again. As people around him feel sorry for him, he never neglected his sports. It was more urgent than anyone else. But I should have left my obsession behind in the process, but I couldn't. I thought I only brought responsibility, but when I looked at him lightly, I didn't. Park Jong-hoon said, "All I could think about was 'What should I do if I give one point?' I was chased a lot. I thought a lot, 'I have to do more now that I have a big contract.' I dug in too much and just threw it (in the window). I didn't have any anxiety. I just wanted to throw it fast. So I ended up with a better result."

Three years of the five-year and 6.5 billion won contract have been swept away. There are two years left. I've tried this and that. I also felt that there were many ways to express responsibility. Rather than being chased, I decided to empty my mind and go again. Fortunately, I'm done adapting to the lost body. The original sensation began to return from the middle and second half of the season, and I'm confident that my body is much more relaxed now. He trained thoroughly during the off-season, and before his colleagues, he goes to the U.S. first to prepare for camp. Park Jong-hoon said, "It couldn't be worse." A reversal sometimes happens when you're completely at the bottom. When Park Jong-hoon has such an opportunity, the collapsed SSG starters can be rebuilt.