Noh Kyung-eun (41, SSG) became the "highest hold king" last year. He recorded eight wins, five losses and 38 holds with an ERA of 2.90 in 77 games (83.2 innings). He became the first hold king in his 40s in the history of professional baseball, surpassing Ryu Taek-hyun (36 years old at the time) of hold king LG in 2007.
After being released by Lotte after the 2021 season, Noh Kyung-eun was in his second heyday at the SSG. He had 12 wins and five losses (79.2 innings) and a 3.05 ERA in 41 games (79.2 innings) in 2022 when he was playing for the starting pitcher and the bullpen, and posted a 3.58 ERA in 76 games (83 innings) in 2023 when he became a must-win pitcher. He also recorded his first "30 holds for two consecutive years" in the league with 38 holds last year.
In recognition of his performance over the past three years, Noh Kyung-eun signed a 2+1 year free agent contract with SSG this winter.메이저놀이터
"I can't afford to relax. I feel like my shoulders have become heavier," Noh said. "We prepared just as hard as we did during the offseason. I want to show good performance this year as I did last year. Please keep an eye on me."
When Noh Kyung-eun became a 10-win pitcher in the 2022 season when she was 38, some said, "I will lose weight next year." She has emerged as a top bullpen pitcher at an age when she retired because of her thorough self-management. Even after returning to Incheon at dawn from an away game in rural areas on weekends, she kept her routine thoroughly enough to return home after exercising her muscles.
Noh Kyung-eun, who made her body well focusing on strength training even during the inactive period, pitched her first bullpen session at the Virovich Spring Camp in Florida on January 31. He threw a total of 48 pitches, including fastballs, sliders and curves, and the maximum speed of the fastball was 143 kilometers per hour.
"Noh Kyung-eun is the oldest player, and seeing him throw today, he made his body so well and the ball was the best," SSG pitching coach Kyung Heon-ho said.
Noh Kyung-eun was confident that his strength in the SSG bullpen this year is not lagging behind any other team. "Kim Min has come new and the number of pitchers he can trust and rely on has increased," he said. "The depth has been strengthened to the extent that he is proud that he is not behind when comparing the bullpen power of the 10 teams."
Noh Kyung-eun's role as a support in the winning group, which will be the axis of young players such as Kim Min (26) and Cho Byung-hyun (23).
Noh is also preparing for this year's season by setting an individual goal. "I want to challenge myself to win the title of '30 holds for three consecutive years' this year," Noh said. "I will do my best to prepare and leave the result to the will of heaven."