Joo Hyun-sang (32, Hanwha), who entered the professional ranks as a fielder in 2015, achieved remarkable growth last year, four years after turning into a pitcher. He played an active role as the team's key bullpen pitcher in the 2023 season, with 55 games, 2 wins, 2 losses, 12 holds, and an ERA of 1.96. Hyunsang Joo is the only pitcher on the team with an ERA in the 1-point range. Hyunsang Joo, whom we met at Hanbat Gymnasium in Daejeon on the 19th where the team's profile photo was being taken, said, "I am proud to have recorded an ERA in the 1-point range while pitching, and it gives me confidence."

The process of him reaching fruition as a pitcher was not smooth. This is true even if you just look at last season. Joo Hyun-sang, who started the season in the first team last year, performed poorly with one loss in three games and an ERA of 4.50, and was notified to move to the second team within a week. After spending over a month in Seosan, he was called up to the first team, but was dropped back to the second team after 10 days. Hyeonsang Joo said, “It felt like time was passing really slowly. “He was doing well in the 2nd team, but it was really difficult because he couldn’t advance to the 1st team,” he said, expressing his feelings at the time.

He waited for an opportunity, filling in his shortcomings without wavering. Even considering his pregnant spouse who was alone in Daejeon, he had to have the skills to stay in the first team for a long time. Joo Hyun-sang said, “Technically, after talking with coach Park Seung-min, I lengthened the extension (the distance from the footrest to the tip of the ball where the ball is released),” and “After adapting to the new movement, my velocity was good, and I was able to pull the breaking ball forward further.” “I think it’s been effective to be able to throw with me,” he explained.

oo Hyeon-sang, who went through his second quenching for 20 days, emerged as a different pitcher than at the beginning of the season. He continued to pitch without giving up a goal in 13 consecutive games from the game against Kiwoom on June 16th to the game against Kiwoom on July 26th. Although he was deployed in relatively relaxed situations such as the chase team, he quickly rose up the stairs and played as a key relief agent for Hanwha's bullpen in the second half of the season. He said, “I think the fact that (Choi) Jae-hoon boldly competed with the batters physically based on his brother’s signature was effective,” and “At first, it was burdensome to be deployed in important situations, but now I can focus and feel comfortable throwing in those situations.” “He said.

Joo Hyun-sang has been preparing for the new season by consistently exercising individually at Hanwha Life Eagles Park in Daejeon since early December last year. He said, “The ERA may go up or down, but I try not to worry too much about it. “I’m only thinking about throwing my pitches with confidence,” he said, expressing his determination to “become a pitcher who creates as many opportunities to win as possible and a pitcher who helps the team win as many times as possible.”

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