These were the words of Park Dong-won (LG Twins) whom we met recently. Will Hernandez, the "El Dong-won" (LG Choi Dong-won), be able to give a wing to LG, which is on a high trajectory by rebounding.토토사이트
Hernandez will take the mound as LG's starting pitcher in a home game against the Samsung Lions in the 2025 professional baseball KBO League at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul on the 15th.
Hernandez, who was called by the Houston Astros through an international amateur free contract in 2011, is a right-handed pitcher who played for the Miami Marlins, the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the Milwaukee Brewers. He posted 10 wins, 22 losses and two holds with an ERA of 5.10 in 99 games (303.1 innings) in the U.S. Major League Baseball (MLB).
Since then, Hernandez joined hands with LG, which was looking for a substitute for Casey Kelly, and marked 3 wins and 2 losses with a 4.02 ERA with one save and one hold in 11 games (47 innings) in the regular season. Notably, he displayed stellar performance in fall baseball. He pitched in all five semi-playoff games against KT Wiz through the bullpen, recording two saves and one hold with an ERA of 0.00 (7.1 innings without allowing any runs), driving LG to advance to the playoffs.
Hernandez also showed great presence in the playoffs against Samsung. He pitched in the third game and pitched 3.2 innings of two hits, one strikeout and five strikeouts, leading LG to a 1-0 victory. Unfortunately, he failed to lead LG to the Korean Series, but Hernandez was able to earn an honorable nickname of El Dong-won.
Early this year, however, he was not good enough. He pitched seven innings of one hit, one strikeout and eight strikeouts to secure the victory against the Hanwha Eagles on March 25, but he has not displayed any significant performance since then. He slowed down at the match against the Suwon KT Wiz (five hits, one homer, three strikeouts and eight runs in 0.2 innings), and also faltered at the match against the Gocheok Kiwoom Heroes (four hits, three homers and four strikeouts and four runs in 5.1 innings, four hits, four homers and four strikeouts).
As of the 14th, LG has played three games (13 innings) with one win and two losses and an 8.31 ERA. While LG has recorded 14 wins and three losses, Hernandez has lost two of the three games that LG has lost.
What caused the team's sluggish performance? "Other starters are throwing so well that they might feel pressured. I think they're trying to throw strikes better," catcher Park Dong-won said recently. "I talked to them and they had similar thoughts. So I said, 'Our starters can't throw so well (for an entire season). You're a guaranteed player. I trust you. You just have to wait a little bit. Let's not rush it."
"(Hernandez) has to throw 27 more times. I won't keep throwing like this during the 27th throw. I thought I should slow down because I have a cycle," he said. "I think it's going to be hard on me right now, but my heart hurts even more because I don't know what to do at all. He pretended to be okay. I will get better after a little more time."
One of the strengths of LG, which is doing well this season, is the solid starting lineup consisting of Yoni Chirinos (3 wins, 1.80 ERA), Lim Chan-kyu (3 wins, 0.83 ERA), Son Joo-young (3 wins, 1.30 ERA), and Song Seung-ki (1 win, 2.00 ERA) along with Hernandez. With all the other players showing good performance, even Hernandez could accelerate his rise if he rebounded.
Park Dong-won said, "He can do better than expected. I am in a difficult situation right now, but starting pitchers cannot continue to throw well. I think Hernandez will definitely throw well then (when some starting pitchers have a hard time)." Will Hernandez be able to make LG manager Yeom Kyung-yeop smile by rebounding against Samsung.