The 'big pitcher' is naturally not satisfied with 170 wins and second place
"We have a long way to go to win our first KBO title."
Yang Hyun-jong, the "big pitcher," pumped his fists for the 170th time. He now needs 40 wins.
Yang started the final game of a three-game midweek series against the Kiwoom Heroes at Gocheok Sky Dome on Friday and pitched seven innings of two-run ball to lead the team to a 13-2 victory. The two-run homer he gave up to Kim Hwijip in the fifth inning was the only blemish on his day, but the bats of the offense that exploded from the third inning onward made it a relatively easy victory.
The win was Yang's second of the season and the 170th win of his KBO career. He became only the second KBO pitcher to reach 170 wins.
Even if Yang continues to add to the list, he'll still need to wait for the first one. Song Jin-woo, the "Legend," has 210 wins. But Yang is determined not to settle for second place.
"It's always nice to be congratulated like this," he said after the match. It's even better to feel that our team is united," he said. Before the match, coach 토토 Lee Bum-ho said, "Yang's 170 wins are more important than the team's record of 20 minimum wins. The coaching staff will work hard to make Yang Hyun-jong win." Yang Hyun-jong, who saw the interview before his start, said, "I think the coach made a mistake in the interview. The team is more important than my victory," he said, but he didn't seem to mind.
Now, every time he reaches 10 wins, he'll be in the spotlight, but in the end, it's only when he wins first place that he feels like he's "done it. Yang doesn't hide his greed either. "Honestly, I'm a little embarrassed that I'm being celebrated for 170 wins today. My goal is to become the first KBO player to win 170 games, not second. I have 170 wins, but I still have a long way to go. Until the day I hang up my jersey, it will be very difficult and hard, but preparing to surpass Song Jin-woo's record will be my biggest goal until I retire."