Lee Yi-ri (21) of the KIA Tigers has shown improvement by reaching 10 wins for the second consecutive year. It’s an accomplishment that came after overcoming many obstacles.메이저사이트
Lee threw six innings of five-hit, two-run ball with nine strikeouts and one walk against the KIUM Heroes of the 2023 Shinhan Bank Solar KBO League at Gwangju-KIA Champions Field on April 16.
After helping his team to an 11-3 victory, Lee earned his 10th win (6-0) in his 20th appearance of the season. It was the second straight year he has reached 10 wins. Lee and KT Wiz’s Ko Young-pyo (10-5) are the only two homegrown starters with double-digit wins this year.
Lee reached the 10-win plateau last year by picking up a win in his final start of the season. This year, the pace is even better. The team has reached 10 wins with 49 games remaining, and if they keep up their current pace, they could reach 15 wins for the season.
It’s been a rough road for Lee, who struggled with his pitches in the first half of the season. In six appearances in April, he lasted just 27 1/3 innings and walked 26 batters.
Lee showed improvement in May, reducing his walks (11 in 17 innings), but fell apart again in June. He walked 23 batters in 23⅔ innings and struggled to a 6.46 ERA.
Lee, whose fastball velocity dropped to 139 miles per hour, was designated for assignment on June 28. It was his first trip to the second team this season to recharge.
The rest paid off. With his velocity back, Lee pitched at least five innings in each of his first five games back with the team and picked up four wins. He also got the job done with three quality starts (six or more innings and three or fewer earned runs).
Most encouragingly, his strikeout numbers have dropped significantly. In 28 innings pitched, he walked just 10 batters.
Lee, the 2021 Rookie of the Year in his rookie season, is on solid footing with back-to-back 10-win seasons. He is solidifying himself as the next ace who is slowly working on his weaknesses.