“I think I got a little bit of that feeling when I first won the Dinos.”
On June 4, 2023, NC Jaehak Lee remembered April 11, 2013. On this day, the ‘9th heart’ NC Dinos joined the 1st team and broke a 7-game losing streak and won their first victory. At that time, the starting pitcher was 22-year-old Lee Jae-hak. Lee Jae-hak, who faced LG at Jamsil Stadium, led the team to a 4-1 victory with six scoreless innings.메이저놀이터
Lee Jae-hak, who was once NC’s flagship starting pitcher by winning double-digit wins for four consecutive years, but now, at the age of 32, is unable to join the first-team spring camp. But he didn’t give up. After returning to the first team with difficulty, he is fighting hard as if he had returned to 10 years ago, recording an average ERA of 1.5 and 0 with quality starts in three consecutive games.
Lee Jae-hak won his first win of the season with 2 hits, 1 walk, 3 strikeouts and 1 run in 6 innings against LG on the 4th. Lee Jae-hak’s good pitching was a stepping stone to NC and LG, who won 3-1, and won a sweeping victory in 3 consecutive weekends and kept 4th place. NC’s victory in Jamsil’s 3-game series against LG is the first time in 2191 days since June 2nd to 4th, 2017.
After the game, Lee Jae-hak smiled, saying, “I felt a little bit like 2013 while watching it. When I first won the Dinos, I got that feeling and that feeling of waiting. I think it’s because I won after a long time.”
It was not a victory made by luck. In his last two games, there were only wins, but he pitched well with 2 hits, 3 runs and 2 earned runs in 12 innings. Lee Jae-hak explained, “The speed of the fastball has improved and the strength has improved. It seems that I am able to catch the swinging ball, and the repertoire has diversified by adding breaking balls such as cutters and sliders.”
It is thanks to the diligent efforts at Masan Stadium, which was used as the home stadium 10 years ago. Lee Jae-hak said, “I couldn’t go to the (1st team) spring camp, but while staying with the Futures team, I boldly challenged things that I hadn’t tried before. I got a point. I just thought,” he said.
It was possible because he was not in the first team. Lee Jae-hak said, “The 1st team is a battlefield after all… It is difficult to try it comfortably. Every year I fight in the 1st team, but it is not easy to test there (pointing to the mound). Some people may say, but I am testing there. I thought it was unacceptable, so I guess I didn’t dare to try it.”
Lee Jae-hak seemed to be waiting sincerely and eagerly. He said, “I want to keep helping the team win like now. I really wanted to win today, but in the end, I really couldn’t see it, so I went into the locker. I’m glad I won.”