Even before making his regular season debut in the Korean professional baseball league, he struck out big leaguers and drew attention.메이저사이트

Quite a few new players are considered "big prospects" until they join the professional league, but after the opening, they realize the high wall of professionals.

However, Kim Taek-yeon proved her competitiveness against the Los Angeles Dodgers batter in the Major League (MLB) and quickly established herself as the best closing pitcher in the KBO League.

The ending cut of the 2024 season was "Rising the Rookie of the Year." Kim Taek-yeon won the Rookie of the Year trophy at the 2024 KBO League regular season award ceremony held at Lotte Hotel World in Seoul on Sunday afternoon. She garnered 93 votes out of 101 valid votes in a vote by reporters.

Kim was praised by the head coach of the big league in March this year. Kim played in an exhibition game against the Dodgers as a member of the Korean national team at Gocheok Dome on March 18, and struck out both batters in the bottom of the sixth inning when his team was losing 2-4.

He threw a 151km/h fastball in 1 ball-2 strikes against Teoscar Hernandez, who played in 811 big league games until last year, and struck out swinging by throwing 149km/h, 150km/h and 149km/h fastballs consecutively to James Outman.

After the game, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said, "Outman said, 'Kim Taek-yeon's pitch was amazing. The ball at the top of the strike zone was powerful,'" and praised Kim Taek-yeon, saying, "I think the speed was about 91 miles per hour (about 146 kilometers), but in reality, it must have been 95 to 96 miles per hour (about 153 to 154.5 kilometers)."

There were trials, but he overcame them wisely. Kim struggled against the NC Dinos on Mar. 23, when he made his KBO League debut, by allowing two hits and two runs in one inning. He also played in the second division for 10 days from Mar. 30 to Apr. 8.

"The failure of my debut match in the first division was my medicine," Kim Taek-yeon said. "I've grown using that failure as a stepping stone," adding, "I haven't forgotten the game that day."

Kim Taek-yeon, who used failure as a stepping stone, established himself as a bullpen pitcher most trusted by Doosan manager Lee Seung-yeop and was promoted to the closing pitcher from June.

Kim posted three wins and two losses, 19 saves, four holds, and an ERA of 2.08. Armed with fast balls and thick guts that can exceed 150 kilometers per hour, Kim also set a brilliant record.

On July 23, against the Kiwoom Heroes in Jamsil, he made his 10th save of the season at the age of 19 years, 1 month, and 20 days, breaking the record of 10 saves in a single season achieved by Na Seung-hyun (then Lotte Giants) in 2006 at 19 years, 2 months, and 10 days.

On August 27, in a game against the Changwon NC Dinos, he harvested his 17th save of the season, setting a record for the most saves by a high school graduate, exceeding Na Seung-hyun's 16 saves in 2006.

In the second game of the wild card decision on October 3, he allowed two hits and no runs in two ⅓ innings against the kt wiz.

Doosan fans welcomed Kim Taek-yeon's rapid growth but worried about his injury, saying, "Maybe he throws too many balls in the first season."

However, Kim said, "I have no problem at all. I took the mound by thoroughly managing my physical condition and rest days," adding, "I have no physical or physical burden at all. I will train hard during the off-season and show better performances next year."