NC Dinos pitcher Eric Yokishi completed his second start since returning to the KBO.
Yokishi was the starting pitcher in a home game against the SSG Landers at NC Park in Changwon on Friday. Yokishi, who played for the Kiwoom Heroes from the 2019 season until June of last year, has been a “left-handed ace” for more than four seasons.
Yokishi, who has been building his body in the United States after being sidelined with an injury last year, started this season without a team. Yokishi, who had a tryout with the Doosan Bears, was reconnected with Korea when NC released Daniel Castano and looked for a replacement. After finalizing the contract, NC announced the signing of Yokishi on July 31 for an annual salary of $100,000 (approximately KRW 138 million).
In his comeback game against the LG Twins in Jamsil on July 9, Yokishi took the loss, allowing 10 runs on eight hits (two home runs) with two walks and four strikeouts in 3⅔ innings. He had a rough first inning, giving up 10 runs on two home runs to Austin Dean, but settled down in the second inning. “I think I panicked when I gave up back-to-back hits in a hectic situation. From the second inning on, she regained her composure and didn’t do too badly.”
And the long-awaited second start.
Yokishi started his second start against SSG with a practice sense check. He started off fresh with a triple play in the first inning after struggling in the previous game against LG, 카지노사이트 추천 and even though he gave up a run in the second inning with runners on first and second on a hit and a walk, he induced a double play.
From there, he continued to showcase his crisis management skills. In the third inning, he struck out Choi Jung with runners on first and third and two outs, but induced a fly ball to center field against Shin-Soo Choo.
It was the steady, relaxed Yokishi we’ve come to know, but he still hadn’t fully recovered his feel for the game, and his velocity dropped off sharply as his pitch count exceeded 70 pitches.
After striking out leadoff hitter Park Ji-hwan on a wild pitch in the top of the fifth inning with NC leading 2-1, Yokishi faced Choi Ji-hoon, who threw a 140-kilometer fastball on a 2B-ball count and gave up a double to left field.
With the bases loaded, Yokishi threw a 138-kilometer fastball to the next batter, Kim Sung-hyun, and again, it was timed just right for a home run.
The pitching coach came to the mound to ask for his opinion, but Yokishi continued to pitch and faced the next batter, Choi Jung, for another home run. This time, he hit a 127-kilometer curveball on a 1B2S on the fifth pitch. Three runs quickly followed. As his pitch count approached the limit, his strength clearly dropped.
After giving up back-to-back homers to consecutive batters, Yokishi was removed from the game in the fifth inning. Final line: 4 1/3 innings, 6 hits (2 home runs), 3 walks, 4 strikeouts, 4 runs.
Yokishi, who had a two-seam fastball that topped out at 143 mph in the LG game, had another high of 143 mph and a low of 138 mph. That’s three to four miles off his peak. However, his command was much more settled than in his first start, with a strike 51: ball 32 ratio.