In a stunning display of skill and determination, LG Twins' starting pitcher Son Joo-young delivered a remarkable performance on March 23, 2025, during a game against the Lotte Giants at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul. The game was part of the 2025 Professional Baseball season.
Son Joo-young showcased his pitching prowess by throwing seven innings, allowing just one hit among five strikeouts while keeping the Giants scoreless. This dominating performance marked the 25-year-old pitcher's first victory of the season. Last year, he finished the season with a record of 9 wins and 10 losses, coupled with an earned run average (ERA) of 3.79, as he established himself as a formidable starting pitcher.
On this occasion, Son faced challenges early in the game. In the first inning, he walked leadoff hitter Yoon Dong-hee but quickly regrouped by inducing a sacrifice bunt from Son Ho-young and striking out Jeon Jun-woo. Despite a brief scare in the second inning when he walked Victor Reyes, Son demonstrated his resilience by getting Na Seung-yeop to ground into a double play and recording the final out with a fly ball.
The third inning was another test of Son's skills, as he struck out Ko Seung-min but allowed Jeon Min-jae a double before retiring Yoon Dong-hee with a fly ball to first base. Notably, Son remained unfazed and progressively stifled the Lotte Giants' offense thereafter.
During the fourth, he again induced ground balls from Son Ho-young and Jeon Jun-woo before retiring Reyes with a fly ball to right field. The fifth inning showcased Son's command as he struck out Na Seung-yeop, forcing Jeong Hun and Yoo Kang-nam into groundouts and a swinging strikeout respectively.
Son continued his dominance into the sixth and seventh innings, retiring the threats posed by Ko Seung-min, Jeon Min-jae, and Yoon Dong-hee, all with ground balls. After an impressive 96 pitches thrown, he exited the game before the eighth inning, leaving the contest with a solid score of 5-0, preparing the field for reliever Baek Seung-hyun.
This outing not only highlights Son's exceptional abilities as a pitcher but also sets a promising tone for the LG Twins' 2025 season, suggesting he is ready to build upon his previous year as he strives for an even more successful campaign. With the team looking to capitalize on this stellar pitching display, fans of the LG Twins can expect more excitement as the season unfolds.
Son's successful debut sets high expectations for the young star moving forward, indicating that he may well be a crucial player for the LG Twins as they navigate through the KBO League.