CHANGWON, South Korea — Ko Young-pyo, the sidearm pitcher for the KT Wiz, marked his son's first birthday with a pivotal win against the NC Dinos, pitching six scoreless innings in Game 3 of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) postseason.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Ko’s performance included 10 groundouts and five strikeouts, utilizing a lethal combination of changeups and fastballs that left the Dinos' lineup struggling to connect. This victory is the first for the Wiz in the series, setting up a critical Game 4 that could see the team return the series to their home ground in Suwon if they secure another win.
The city of Changwon witnessed Ko’s stellar performance, where he consistently kept the Dinos at bay. The pitcher encountered minimal trouble throughout the game, despite allowing a couple of walks and singles, and kept the Dinos from advancing runners into scoring position.
The turning point came in the sixth inning when the Dinos could not capitalize on a leadoff single, ultimately undercutting their momentum with an attempted steal and subsequent strikeouts. Ko wrapped up his outing with 105 pitches, 47 of which were changeups that kept the Dinos' hitters off balance throughout the night.
Ko’s son, Cha-min, born on November 2 last year, was not present to witness his father’s critical performance that kept the Wiz's postseason hopes alive. While the young child may not yet understand the significance of his father’s job, the Wiz and their fans recognized the importance of Ko's contribution on such a personal milestone.
This win not only provided a momentous occasion for Ko and his family but also reinvigorated the Wiz as they face the remainder of the postseason, with the elder Ko demonstrating dedication both on the field and off, balancing his roles as a professional athlete and a father.