“I will continue to use it in the future.”
The first user of Pitchcom in the KBO League expressed his satisfaction. There is a consensus on the field that it could be a big mistake to use it right away, but there is also a possibility that more players will take a bold challenge.
The KBO distributed two sets of Pitchcom on the 15th of this month.
Pitchcom is a device that allows players to easily exchange autographs with each other by pressing a button. This could help eliminate the autograph stealing controversy and shorten the duration of games by reducing unnecessary autograph exchanges.
Pitchcom became an issue earlier this year. The KBO tried to introduce pitch clocks along with ABS this season, but faced backlash from the field, and eventually decided to pilot it this year and implement it next year. During the process, Ryu Hyun-jin (Hanwha), who has a lot of experience in the U.S. Major Leagues, argued that “if we want to do pitch clocks, we need to introduce pitchcoms like the U.S.”. When Ryu said this, public opinion was created, saying, “We need to introduce Pitchcom immediately.
In the end,
The KBO hastily prepared PitchCom and made it available from the 16th game. However, there were many opinions on the field that it would be difficult to use it right away, saying, “Sudden changes are burdensome when one win is important.” Of course, there was also the case of Hanwha Eagles manager Kim Kyung-moon, who said, “We will use it right away.”
The first user was Benjamin, a foreign pitcher for the KT Wiz. Benjamin wore Pitchcom while starting against the Kiwoom Heroes at Gocheok Sky Dome on the 16th. Pitchcom can be worn by a total of five people per game: pitcher, catcher, and three outfielders. 바카라사이트 Catcher Jang Sung-woo wore the transmitter, while the other four players used the receiver. In other words, Jang would select a pitch and press a button, and it would be relayed to the other four players. Shortstop Kim Sang-soo, second baseman Oh Yoon-seok, and the center fielder were also on the list. Center fielders have completely different defensive responsibilities depending on the type of pitch.
Pitchers and catchers are the most important.
Benjamin pitched six and a third innings of one-run ball with the PitchCom. At least it didn’t get in the way. “I’ve used Pitchcom before when I was in Triple-A with the Chicago White Sox in 2022,” Benjamin says. “I was comfortable with it,” he says, adding, ”It’s easier because it has an English receiver. It was more convenient than the machines I used in the U.S.,” he adds.
“Pitchcom helped me pitch because it allowed me to get up to tempo quickly. You don’t have to worry about the runners, you just have to worry about the batter.” Pitchers are always worried about runners stealing signs, and not having to think about that means they can focus more on their pitches.
“I think it’s a disadvantage for hitters because it doesn’t give them time to think. I think I will continue to use it in the future.”
We were also curious to hear the reaction of Jang Jang-woo, the catcher who pressed the transmitter himself, but he declined the interview because he was unhappy with his performance against Kiwoom.