‘Seon Dong-yeol ERA’ 0-point average ERA Challenge 3 people

Pitchers with average ERAs in the 0-point range are pouring in in the early stages of professional baseball in Korea, the US, and Japan. As of the 26th, there are 3 Koreans, 3 Americans, and 5 Japanese. It may not be possible to maintain this pace throughout the year, but it is clear that it is unusual. A pitcher who finished a season with zero points has not appeared since 1914 in the United States and 1970 in Japan. In Korea, Seon Dong-yeol (Haitai, 0.78) was the last in 1993. In Korea, the average ERA in the 0-point range is called ‘Seon Dong-yeol’s ERA’ because only Sun Dong-yeol has achieved this 0-point range 3 times. Last year, until April 25, Drew Luchinski (then NC) and Charles Barnes (Lotte) rallied with 0.33 and 0.54, but eventually finished the season with 2.97 and 3.62.

◇ Ahn Woo-jin and Pedi join Plutko

In Korea, An Woo-jin (24, Kiwoom), Eric Peddy (30, NC), and Adam Plutko (32, LG) are maintaining a score of 0 side by side. An Woo-jin and Peddy started 5 games, and Plutko started 4 games. Pedi 0.58, Plutko 0.77, Ahn Woo-jin 0.84, in that order. Just looking at the records, Ahn Woo-jin is the most powerful. An Woo-jin has a hit rate of 0.143, 46 strikeouts, 6 walks, and an on-base percentage per inning (WHIP, hits and walks on base) 0.69. Pedy was .204 with 37 strikeouts, 8 walks and a WHIP of 1.00. Plutko is 0.190 with 14 strikeouts, 8 walks and a WHIP of 1.03.

An Woo-jin and Plutko dominated the Korean mound with 15 wins (tied for second place in most wins) last year. The average ERA was 2.11 and 2.39 respectively, ranking first and third. That momentum continues this year as well. Peddy is a former MLB starting pitcher, and this is his first time in Korea.

If you look at the record, Peddy is a grounder pitcher. The percentage of ground balls while out is 41%, the highest among the three pitchers. Woojin Ahn had the most strikeouts at 48%, and Plutko had the highest number of free balls at 51%. The strikeout rate per walk is 7.67 for Ahn Woo-jin, 4.63 for Peddy, and 1.75 for Plutko. As for the position itself, Ahn Woo-jin is the most powerful.

Although he seemed to hesitate for a while due to the ‘school violence’ controversy, Ahn Woo-jin is the best pitcher in Korea right now. It is in the final stage of control with a fastball approaching 160 km, and recently, Shohei Otani (29, LA Angels) is polishing the variant slider ‘Sweeper’, which is sensationally popular in the United States. He recently learned how to throw a sweeper from teammate Eric Yokishi (34) and has been refining it for a while. It is said that he threw 6 as a test against KT on the 25th. Ahn Woo-jin said, “It’s still a shame to be called a sweeper. I want to describe him as a slider with a large angle,” he said. I will try to refine it better in the future.”

Peddy’s fastball velocity is in the early 150km range, not as good as An Woo-jin’s, but his cutter, curve, and changeup are of high quality, and he said that he learned the sweeper before coming to Korea this season. Park Se-hyeok (33), catcher of the same team, said, “The movement is so good that there is no straight ball.” 스포츠토토

Plutko tends to catch it rather than push it with force. His fastball is only about 145 km, but his control is excellent. Since he uses the relatively large Jamsil Stadium as his home, the feature of being a fly ball pitcher works as a strength.

◇Otani and Sasaki… Japan’s national team pitchers

Ohtani, who has emerged as the MLB’s top star with a double job as a pitcher, is also challenging an ERA in the 0-point range. As of the 26th, he has won 3 wins in 5 starts this season, and his earned run average is 0.64, ranking second overall. Using a sweeper that curves nearly 43 cm from side to side with a fast ball of over 160 km per hour, he struck out 38 (6th in the league), while giving up only 8 hits, the fewest among pitchers who filled the required innings.

The number one ERA is Sonny Gray (34) of the Minnesota Twins. He also won 3 out of 5 matches. He is an 11-year veteran of his debut, but he was not considered a top player. However, he is increasing his ransom with terrifying momentum at the beginning of his season ahead of free agent (FA). Gerrit Cole (33, New York Yankees), 5th in the MLB annual salary ranking (36 million dollars, about 48.1 billion won), is running in 3rd place with an ERA of 0.79.

In Japan, 5 players are maintaining an average ERA of 0 points. Among them, Loki Sasaki (22, Chiba Lotte), who is called Japan’s next-generation ace, stands out. He did not allow a single point in three games. He struck out 20 while giving up 5 hits and 3 walks in 20 innings. He is aiming for a new record (previously 31 innings) of consecutive scoreless innings since the opening of Japanese baseball.