SEOUL – The LG Twins, current champions of South Korean baseball, displayed commendable performance despite a narrow loss to the MLB's San Diego Padres.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the Twins' outing against the Padres, who are preparing for their season opener in Seoul, ended with a 5-4 scoreline, providing valuable experience ahead of their own season.
In a game filled with notable moments, Twins captain Oh Ji-hwan stood out by hitting a home run against Padres pitcher Dylan Cease, a top contender for the 2022 American League Cy Young Award. Oh shared his strategic approach, emphasizing his anticipation of Cease's fastballs and adapting his timing to capitalize on the opportunity.
Twins pitcher Im Chan-kyu also left a strong impression, tallying seven strikeouts over five innings against the Padres' lineup. Im expressed his pride in competing at this level and his intent to leverage his repertoire of changeups and curveballs against unfamiliar opponents, focusing on avoiding costly mistakes.
The Twins faced Padres players Kim Ha-seong and Go Woo-suk, both former KBO stars, adding a layer of intrigue and excitement to the exhibition. Oh highlighted the game's significance as a preparatory and educational opportunity, particularly for the younger Twins players, emphasizing the team's competitive approach.
One of the game's pivotal moments involved Kim Ha-seong hitting a two-run homer off Im, a learning point that Im acknowledged, reflecting on the need to minimize errors against skilled hitters. This experience, Im noted, provided critical insights that he plans to integrate into his strategy for the upcoming KBO season, emphasizing precision in his pitching.