“We are checking various types of pitches in line with the starting pitching for the opening game.”
Wes Benjamin (30, kt Wiz) started on the 26th at Suwon kt Wiz Park in the ‘2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League Demonstration Game’ against SSG Landers.
Benjamin sent runners out in every inning except for the second inning, but he minimized runs by blocking follow-up hitters. The biggest crisis was in the top of the 4th inning when the team was leading 1-0. Leading batter Guillermo Heredia allowed a double. Afterwards, follow-up hitter Choi Jeong hit the ball, and shortstop Kim Sang-soo made a catch error, making it 1st and 2nd base safely.
The flow kept getting worse. After that, he gave up a double steel, and faced a crisis of reversing the 2nd and 3rd base safely. Benjamin allowed the third base runner to score when Kim Seong-hyun grounded from second base, and the score was tied 1-1, but he caught the outcount and put out the urgent fire. Afterwards, Kim Kang-min and Park Seong-han’s main batters were treated with a ground ball to third base and a strikeout, respectively, to end the inning.
In the top of the 5th inning, lead hitter Oh Tae-gon got a heavy hit and sent another runner on base, but relief pitcher Kim Min handled the follow-up batters, so Benjamin’s run didn’t go up. The final score was 4⅓ innings, 3 hits, 2 walks, 4 strikeouts and 1 run. Ahead of the opening game (against Suwon LG Twins on the 1st of next month), the last actual test produced meaningful results.
After the game, Benjamin said, “Since it was a demonstration game, I focused on various situations that could arise and how to deal with them in the regular season, rather than focusing on the team’s score.” There was,” he said.
Benjamin is currently improving his physical condition smoothly. On the first day of spring camp, which was the beginning of last month, he recorded a maximum speed of 144 km per hour, and on the last appearance of the demonstration game that day, he was restrained up to 150 km. He is gradually recovering his pitch and raising expectations for the opening game. 먹튀검증
Benjamin explained, “I am checking various types of pitches in line with the start of the opening game. Whenever I increase the number of pitches according to the schedule, my condition also rises. I am satisfied with my current physical condition overall.”
In the middle of last year, Benjamin wore the kt uniform in place of William Cuevas (33). Since then, he has grown into the ace of the team by playing an active role in 17 games with 5 wins, 4 losses, 96⅔ innings, an average ERA of 2.70, 77 strikeouts and a WHIP (on-base percentage per inning) of 1.02.
And as time went on, he grew into a lucky man enough to start the team’s opening match. I wonder what kind of performance Benjamin, who is in charge of the team’s first starter, will show this year.