SEOUL, South Korea - The NC Dinos trio who contributed to South Korea's gold medal win at the Asian Games baseball tournament believe their experience in China is playing a vital role in their strong performance during the ongoing postseason in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO).
According to a new release by Yonhap News Agency, the Dinos sent pitcher Kim Young-kyu, shortstop Kim Ju-won, and catcher Kim Hyung-jun to the Asian Games, each coming home with a gold medal. The Dinos' undefeated postseason run so far includes a win against the Doosan Bears in the wild card game and a sweep of defending champions SSG Landers in the best-of-five first round.
Kim Young-kyu was named the MVP of the series against the Landers. Although he pitched just one inning at the Asian Games, the 23-year-old left-hander emphasized the importance of the international experience. "Each and every game at the Asian Games was nerve-wracking," he said. "The experience has helped me stay calm during the postseason."
Kim Hyung-jun, who served as South Korea's primary catcher during the Asian Games, has also seen positive effects from the experience. He hit three home runs during the postseason. "After competing in such a huge international tournament, I am not really that nervous now in these games," he noted.
Kim Ju-won, an offensive contributor during the Asian Games, has shown marked improvement in his defense. He made 30 errors during the regular season but has not committed any during the postseason. "Bringing home the gold medal has put my mind at ease," he stated, "I feel like I can jump into the postseason and play my game without battling any nerves."