It seems to be a name that will do well in baseball. Mario Sanchez (29), a new foreign pitcher for the KIA Tigers, expressed his determination to win the team championship.
Sanchez met with reporters ahead of the kt Wiz match of the ‘2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League’ held at Suwon kt Wiz Park on the 8th.먹튀검증
KIA started replacing foreign pitchers by recruiting Sanchez on the 6th. Sanchez, who was playing in the Taiwan Professional Baseball League (CPBL), immediately boarded a plane to Korea and joined the Tiger Corps.
The KIA said, “Sanchez has excellent game management skills based on stable control and has a variety of pitches, so he was evaluated as a suitable substitute starter. He uses a fast ball with an average speed of 140 km/h in the mid-to-late half, curve, slider, and changeup.” revealed
In an interview with the reporters that day, Sanchez smiled and said, “I am in good shape. I am ready to throw well tomorrow (9th).”
There is Sanchez, who is sweeping the KBO league recently. The main character is Hanwha Eagles pitcher Ricardo Sanchez (26), who joined as a substitute foreign player in the middle of the season and is recording an average ERA of 2.61 with 5 wins and 1 loss in 10 games and 51⅔ innings. Last May (4 games, 20 innings average ERA 0.90) and June (4 games 22⅔ innings average ERA 1.99) recorded impressive monthly ERA and made a soft landing in the KBO League.
Gyaches (Kia + Sanchez) also have many similarities like their names. He was recruited to Korea as a substitute foreign pitcher, and he is of the same nationality as Venezuela. Attention is focusing on whether he will add strength to the starting lineup like Hanwha Sanchez.
Sanchez cited command as his strength. Expectations are growing as it is the best type for KIA, which suffered from headaches due to the anxiety of Adonis Medina, a former foreign pitcher. “My strong point is command,” said Sanchez.
Sanchez recorded an average ERA of 1.44 in 62⅔innings in 10 games (9 starts) in Taiwan this season. As of the 8th, he took the first step in the KBO after sweeping the Taiwanese league, including the most wins in the Taiwanese league and leading the ERA category.
Regarding the KBO League, which took on a new challenge, Sanchez said, “I haven’t heard about the KBO league’s explanation or experience separately (from my colleagues). It seems to be starting in a really new environment.” “Korean hitters seem to have power. However, baseball is the same. It is a game where a pitcher throws a ball and a batter hits a bat. Baseball does not change, so I try to think that way.”
Sanchez joined the team on the 7th, but is gradually melting as a member of the Tiger Corps. It seemed that after two days, the adaptation was over. “It was unfamiliar because it was my first time, but everyone on the team welcomed me so I’m adapting quickly. We’ve already become very close like players we’ve been through the season with,” he said with a smile.
Finally, Sanchez hinted at his goal of winning the team. “As everyone aspires to, winning the team comes first. I believe that a big enough change can happen when those goals are combined,” he said, expressing his strong determination, “I will throw many strikes.”
Sanchez will make his KBO league debut by starting against Suwon kt on the 9th. Can Sanchez, who has a name to be good at baseball, write another excellent example of an alternative foreign player?