152→153→154km! I can't believe this kind of pitcher didn't make the first team for 6 years... A 'long-haired passionate guy' who volunteered to study in the U.S. with half his salary

152→153→154km! I can't believe this kind of pitcher didn't make the first team for 6 years... A 'long-haired passionate guy' who volunteered to study in the U.S. with half his salary

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Looking at his pitching capabilities, it is doubtful how such a pitcher has thrown even a single game in the first team. Hong Won-bin (25) of the Kia Tigers is throwing fastballs with his long hair.

Hong Won-bin took the mound in the bottom of the eighth inning when his team was trailing 3-6 in the 2025 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO exhibition game against the NC Dinos at Changwon NC Park on the 10th.바카라

Against Song, the first batter, Hong sprayed fastballs with speeds of 153 kilometers per hour from the first pitch, inducing him to swing and miss. Then, he threw two more pitches along the same course, to strike out three pitches. The last three pitches he garnered at 154 kilometers per hour. His teammates also looked surprised at the speed of his pitches, watching the electronic display.

Hong, who gave up a walk to No. 7, then threw a fastball on the low course outside the first pitch to slugger Park Min-woo, who was substituted for a double play leading to first baseman, shortstop, and pitcher. After finishing the inning with three batters, Hong returned to the dugout.

Hong finished the game with one strikeout, one walk and no run in one inning. What was more surprising than the result itself was his speed. He threw a ball well over 150 kilometers in length with ease. Except for the last ball, which was classified as a two-seam fastball, all of the nine balls were thrown four-seam fastball. The record was astonishing with a minimum speed of 152 kilometers and a maximum of 154 kilometers. KBSN Sports commentator Jang Sung-ho also said, "With this speed, I don't need a breaking ball."

KIA manager Lee Bum-ho met with reporters the next day about Hong Won-bin's pitching, saying, "When I see his pitches, I think I definitely felt a lot after pitching in the U.S.." "I think it would have been a great experience for Won-bin yesterday."

Hong Won-bin, who has yet to appear in the first team, is already in his seventh year as a professional player. After graduating from Deoksu High School, he was selected by KIA as the 10th overall pick in the first round of the second round of the 2019 KBO Rookie Draft. After turning from catcher to pitcher, he threw a fastball in the late 140km/h range, recognizing his growth potential.

However, his ball control has always stopped him. He pitched in a total of 31 games in the Futures League until last year, and posted 2 wins, 15 losses and an earned run average of 12.56. While striking out 44 times during 71 ⅔ innings, he garnered 107 pitches (92 walks, 15 pitches that fit his body). Last year, he allowed 11 walks in one ⅓, including one hit, seven walks and six runs in one inning against Samsung on Sept. 6.
"He had enough ball power, and he can throw at that speed at any time. He pushes ahead with the ball on days when he is not in good condition, and because he is in bad condition on days, he did not have much experience in the first team before that," Lee said.

Still, Kia could not afford to disregard its fastball weapon. The team dispatched Hong to the Canberra Cavaliers of the Australian Baseball Organization after the end of the 2023 season, and is displaying strong hope to take him to the spring camp as a nurturing player again this season.

Hong Won-bin, who met with reporters the day after the pitch, looked back on his pitching, saying, "I was satisfied because it went in better than I thought." "I felt that I couldn't throw my ball during the spring camp, but I felt relieved as I threw it yesterday (10th)." "I think it's my first time to feel this way since I joined the professional league," he said.

"I threw only looking at the center. I don't normally shake my head at the catcher's signature, but I threw the ball believing that Seung-taek (Han) told me to throw fastballs only," Hong said. "I am confident that I will be able to press it with my strength yesterday."

Hong Won-bin, who threw balls in the mid-150km/h back-to-back, still has room for more speed. "I think I'll come out more when the weather gets warmer," he said. "I'm not sure," he said when he said, "I don't feel like I'm using up my body yet, so I think there's a good chance of development."

Hong improved his pitching mechanism this winter at the Tread Athletic Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. With the minimum annual salary of 30 million won, he shook off 15 million won. "It wasn't a waste at all," he said. "Rather than making a huge change and getting better, I had a process that I was playing with coaches in my team, and I feel a bit better now."

"Since (Hong Won-bin) is a nurturing player, I will send him back to the Futures League and make a decision when he can register for the entry (May 1) while exercising," coach Lee said. "I have imagined (throwing at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field) not only recently but also since I was nominated," Hong said, expressing his will to make his debut in the first division.