The automatic ball judgment system (ABS) is changing many things in the KBO league this season. Kang Baek-ho of the KT, who played as catcher only twice since joining the pro league, is playing as a catcher in earnest. This is because the framing has become meaningless. 먹튀검증
Pitchers also see significant changes in their ball control. Notably, some players have seen their curveball performance increase. When a curveball that drops to the top of the strike zone is declared a strike, not only the batter standing at the batter's box but also the pitcher who threw the ball often look puzzled. Veteran KIA pitcher Yang Hyeon-jong has been talking about the importance of "curve" from an early age, and his junior pitcher Lee Eui-ri has also shown to make good use of it.
Lee Eui-ri, who started an away game against KT at KT Wiz Park in Suwon on the 4th, struck out seven in five innings, allowed two runs, and won his first win of the season.
What stands out is his curveball performance rate of 17.3 percent. Lee, who had a curveball performance of 7.8 percent on average last season, displayed a curveball of 21.8 percent at the game against Doosan, his first appearance this season. His curveball performance was more than twice that of last year.
The highlight of the game is Jang's at-bat in the bottom of the second inning. He threw four curves against Jang with two outs and a runner on the second base, but both the first pitch and the fourth pitch, when he struck out rookie, hit the top corner. Lee himself looked puzzled when he heard the rookie strikeout call.
"The important thing about ABS is that it has to pass through the home plate (the virtual strike zone above)," Yang said. "He tries to focus on throwing a wide-angle breaking ball. A catcher's ball once it passes through the sensor becomes a strike."
"I think pitchers who throw balls like me will be judged well by ABS. Balls that have not been judged as strikes before are becoming strikes," Lee said. Under the ABS system, a strike call is received when a ball only enters the judgment line. A widely curved ball had not been judged as a strike due to an optical illusion by a human referee, but now a signal is sent when only a sensor passes through.
Joo Seung-woo, an active member of Kiwoom's must-win group, said the same thing. "Coaches ask me to throw high ball because they often hold high ball. That's why I increased the portion of high ball. I didn't hold the opposing pitch, but I hold it once I pass the strike judgment line." Pitchers are making changes in line with the new system.