“I didn’t expect it either.”
NC Dinos ace Kyle Hart (30)’s return match (against KIA Tigers in Changwon) on the 23rd (against the Changwon KIA Tigers) unfolded in a trend that even coach Kang In-kwon did not expect. Coach Kang In-kwon set a limit of 70 pitches in consideration of Hart, who returned after a month since the game against the Kiwoom Heroes in Gocheok on July 31.
As Hart returned after a month of recovery from a severe cold, he focused more on checking his health than on his personal record. However, Hart became the winning pitcher with four hits, four strikeouts and two walks in five innings. He played in five innings with only 65 pitches. He threw only 13 pitches per inning.
Though Hart did not have a chance to play in the second division, he still displayed economic performance. He recorded a maximum of 151 kilometers of four-seam fastball, eclipsing his gap of one month. He mixed change-up, slider, two-seam, and cutter evenly. He struck a whopping 45.
This year, NC brought Hart as the second starter, not the first one. He is much better than Daniel Castano, the first starter who had ups and downs and elbow issues when he opened the lid. Although he was out for a month, he has 11 wins and 2 losses with a 2.32 ERA in 22 games this season, WHIP 1.03 in 15 quality starts and a batting average of 0.217.
He ranks first in WHIP and hit rate, second in multiple wins and strikeouts (147K), and ninth in the most innings. Based on Statistics Korea, he ranks fifth in the league with a 6.02 WAR and No. 1 pitcher. He ranks first with an ERA of 3.01 and first with a Cy Young point of 58.7. Putting together his first and second statistics, Hart is the best pitcher in the KBO league in the 2024 season.
Ahead of the match against KIA in Changwon on Monday, Kang In-kwon said, “I didn’t expect it either. To be honest, I thought the number of pitches he throws would be around three to four times. He is definitely a good player. He is good at self-management and is a smart pitcher. He also has a spirit of sacrifice to his team. He is a great player.” 메이저놀이터
While shaking off the cold, he lost 5 kilograms and recovered 3 kilograms as he prepared for his comeback. Nonetheless, his pitching and pitching capabilities remained intact. “He still looks a little thinner,” manager Kang In-kwon said. Hart confirmed the bench’s trust in his return match.
From his next start, he will play both pitching numbers and innings normally. Manager Kang In-kwon said, “I didn’t have any major problems in my arm after throwing. From his next start, the number of pitches will also go to the top.” Although he is somewhat sagging due to the struggle for rankings, Hart’s return will give NC a great boost in many ways.
NC really should forget Eric Peddy (St. Louis Cardinals). Although Hart is not a peddy-class player, it is not easy to find such a foreign pitcher again in reality. Heart’s dream of major league is a variable, but at this point, it is not at all strange for NC to seek to renew its contract with Heart after this season. Heart is NC’s biggest harvest this year, which has a lot of depressing events.