“I was more excited because the batters were the best players representing Korea.”
KT’s new foreign pitcher, Bo Shulser, is a replacement foreign pitcher for Audrey Samer Despine. Despine is an inning eater who has played 559⅓ innings while winning 36 wins over three years from the 2020 season. However, over the past three years, his inning digestibility continued to decline with 207⅔ innings, 188⅔ innings, and 163 innings. In addition, last year’s average ERA went up to 4.53, and its power declined significantly.
In the end, KT broke up with Despine while preparing for this season. Still, Despine showed off its loyalty to KT by providing a personal training place for KT pitchers at their home in Miami last January. But pro business. Now, we need to expect Schulser to make us forget Despine’s presence.
KT is still in good shape for most of the 2021 integrated winners. Although it is not considered the strongest power in the league this season메이저놀이터, it is a dark horse in the great race. Unlike Wes Benjamin and Anthony Alford, who play for KT again after last year, Schulser is a new face foreign player, so there are aspects that cannot be counted.
Still, Shulser steadily picks up the pace. On the 11th (Korean time), he checked his condition with 1 live pitching at the Tucson Kino Sports Complex in Arizona, USA. He threw 16 pitches, including a four-seam, cutter, changeup, and slub. His highest speed was 149 km.
Park Byung-ho, Kang Baek-ho, and the ‘Hoho Brothers’ entered the plate one after another for Schulser. Because live pitching is closer to actual practice than bullpen pitching, it can increase concentration as a pitcher. On the other hand, Park Byeong-ho and Kang Baek-ho also need to raise their sense of actual combat as much as possible ahead of the WBC convocation on the 15th. According to KT officials, Schulser climbed the mound somewhat nervous.
Through the KT team, Schulser said, “I was nervous because I had pitched with a hitter on the plate for the first time in a long time since October of last year, but I was more excited because the hitters I met were the best players representing Korea. Health is the top priority, and I was satisfied with the condition of my arms and body balance today.”
Catcher Kang Hyeon-woo, who received the ball from Schulser, said, “I liked the cutter that curves toward the body of (left-handed hitter Kang Baek-ho).” Park Byeong-ho and Kang Baek-ho said, “Even though it’s our first pitching, the fastball and cutter pitches are good. The pitch that I could put on the course I wanted was also great.”
Benjamin, who had already played in the KBO league for a year, also gave Schulser advice. “I also had the experience of being so excited during my first pitching that I tried to over-pace and overdo it. Let’s be more calm and take the time to improve our condition step by step.”
Will Shulser play an active role in making Despine forget? It is a very important variable in KT’s presidency.