Wes Benjamin (KT Wiz) is in good shape ahead of the season. He is instilling expectations that he can perform better than last season.
Benjamin started in the 2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League demonstration game Doosan Bears held at KT Wiz Park in Suwon on the 20th and pitched well with 4 innings, 1 run (1 earned run), 3 hits and 2 strikeouts. KT won 8-2 thanks to Benjamin’s performance and Anthony Alford’s home run.토토사이트
Benjamin joined KT last season as a substitute foreign pitcher for William Cuevas and took the mound from June. He went 5-4, 96⅔ innings, and gave up 34 runs (29 earned) with an earned run average of 2.70 in 17 games. He seemed to get better and better as the season went on. In particular, in September, he made a big success with an average ERA of 1.93, giving up 6 runs (5 earned runs) in 4 games, 23⅓ innings.
Benjamin, who is about to start his second season in the KBO league, is being evaluated as having a better ball than last year before the season. Before the game, head coach Lee Kang-cheol said, “The ball is much better than last year. Even during practice matches with the national team, the national team players said it was completely different from last year’s ball.”
Benjamin said, “I practiced a lot of two-seam fastball in the off-season. I practiced to induce a ground ball hit.”
Regarding his impressions of the game, Benjamin said, “It was a long way back from the road. I wasn’t in 100% condition. Still, I threw my best. I’m satisfied with the good result.” But it fell below. I think I need to make up for that part.”
Benjamin threw 63 pitches in four innings, 32 of which were four-seam fastballs. The highest speed was recorded at 149 km/h. Benjamin said, “The average four-seam fastball speed is a little lower than I thought. But if I keep throwing the ball and practicing, I think my speed will increase.”
Although he joined as a substitute foreign pitcher last season, Benjamin has now become KT’s first starter. With his determination ahead of this season, he said, “I am honored to receive the opportunity to play as the first starter. I also have a sense of responsibility.”
[KT starter Benjamin is fighting back in the match between Doosan and KT in the ‘2023 KBO League Demonstration Match’ held at KT Wiz Park in Suwon, Gyeonggi-do on the 20th. Photo = Suwon Reporter Kwak Gyeong-hun kphoto@mydaily.co.kr]